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Volunteer puppy raiser urges policy change on service dogs in training; board sends animals policy back to committee
Summary
An instructional assistant who has raised more than 20 service dogs told the board service dogs in training help students with emotional regulation and should be permitted in schools; the board referred the proposed animals-on-property policy back to the policy committee to gather more input.
Susan Summers, an instructional assistant and longtime volunteer puppy raiser, asked the Allegany County Board of Education on March 10 to include service dogs in training (SDIT) in the district's animals-on-property policy and described classroom benefits.
—My name is Susan Summers. I'm an instructional assistant for the Allegany County Board of Education,— Summers told the board and provided a packet with excerpts of state guidance. She said SDIT handlers, whether paid or volunteer, have statutory protections and that the district's draft policy appeared to restrict access. —Service dogs aren't born. They are raised. We raise them,— she added, describing how the dogs help students regulate emotions, increase attendance and participate in classroom activities.
Board members thanked Summers for her testimony and emphasized the policy was at first reading. The board voted to return the animals-on-ACPS-property item to the policy committee for additional review and stakeholder input; the motion passed unanimously.
Policy context and next steps
At the meeting Mr. Llewellyn described the new animals policy as guidance and said a regulation would accompany it if and when the policy is adopted. Board members noted considerations such as liability and operational factors and asked that staff gather input from Summers and other school stakeholders. The policy will return to the policy committee for revision before a future board vote.
Why it matters
Summers described multiple instances where service dogs in training assisted students to remain in the classroom and engage with instruction. Because the policy was not adopted at this meeting and was referred back to committee, the district has not made a final decision; Summers and other stakeholders will have an opportunity to provide input to the policy committee before the board takes a vote.
