Giles County board approves partnership to station support dogs in schools

At its Aug. 5 meeting, the Giles County School Board voted to approve a partnership with the Giles County Sheriff—s Department to bring trained support dogs into district schools, with School Resource Officers designated as the animals' handlers.

Board chair Ox Vanderpool introduced the item and said Sheriff Joe Purvis had presented the concept at a prior work session. Dr. Beard and other staff told the board that the district already has a service-animal policy and a coordinated-school-health memorandum of understanding; staff recommended an addendum clarifying that SROs would be the handlers and that insurance coverage would apply when SROs are caring for the dogs.

Dr. Beard (identified in the transcript as presenting administrative details) confirmed insurance is in place and said staff would add language to the existing MOU to reflect the SROs— role. The board asked a few procedural questions about policy language and voted after a motion and second: "All those in favor and approving this partnership with Giles County Sheriff's Department and support animals, say aye," the chair said; the board recorded no opposing votes.

Board members asked staff to "keep us abreast" of next steps and training requirements for bringing animals into schools. Sheriff Purvis thanked the board for approval and said his office would coordinate training and logistics.

The agreement approved by the board will be returned to the county commission for any additional required approvals because it includes multiyear provisions that touch county-level contracts, staff said. The board did not record the vote tally by name in the transcript; the motion passed on a voice vote.