District administrators reviewed the North Penn therapy-dog policy and administrative regulation adopted in August 2022, described current uses and handler requirements, and said the district is exploring contracting with an outside agency to provide more consistent scheduling and coverage.

Mister Roan explained the policy and AR set handler responsibilities (including holding the leash at all times), documentation requirements (training, certification, vaccinations), and approval steps for employees and non-employees who request to bring a therapy dog into schools. He stressed the policy limits which staff roles can regularly serve as handlers.

Doctor Waters said therapy dogs are used primarily for social-emotional learning and TERT (traumatic event response team) activities. "The therapy dogs have really been useful" for students and staff during difficult events, she said, and the district plans to explore contracting with agencies so dogs can make scheduled rounds across buildings rather than rely on individual staff availability.

Doctor Bauer warned that therapy dogs are a service and not a general workplace perk for staff. He said the district is considering structured vendor visits or scheduled days at central schools so the dogs are available without requiring teachers to perform handler duties during their instructional time. "So I hate to be the bearer of bad news... but that's not what this should be," Bauer said, arguing for a more formalized service model.

A student representative said access can feel sporadic and recommended a published schedule or an app so students know where therapy dogs will be. Administrators and committee members supported exploring a pilot and asked staff to return with options for a pilot program and potential vendor arrangements for consistent rounds.

No policy changes were voted on; the discussion was informational and committee members asked staff to report back with pilot options.