Board approves first reading of animals-on-school-property policy amid questions about service-animal training

Allegany County Board of Education members on June 16 approved the first reading of policy IMGA, a district-wide rule to regulate animals on school property and to clarify when animals may be present.

The policy, presented by Mr. Llewellyn, says animals will generally be disallowed in schools to protect a safe, sanitary, allergy-sensitive and instructionally focused environment, while explicitly preserving access for service animals as required by federal and Maryland law and cross-referencing existing policy IMG and regulation IMGR.

Why it matters: the policy responds to a gap the board found in its current regulations and seeks to balance student safety and operational liability with lawful accommodations for people with disabilities. Mr. Llewellyn told the board the policy allows service animals and recognizes Maryland rules for service animals in training but permits exclusion where admitting an animal "would create a clear danger or disturbance or physical harm."

Public commenter Miss Sommer urged the board to account for facility dogs and service animals in training, saying her program places trained dogs in schools and that she has "22 dogs, zero incidents" while describing how animals provided comfort during school emergencies. "These dogs change people's lives," she said.

Board members spoke in support of moving the draft forward for additional review and a second reading, repeatedly citing liability and the need to protect all students. Mrs. Lepley said she had sought community feedback and reviewed other systems' approaches; Mrs. Weymer and Mrs. Woodmire said the issue required careful, planned accommodations and prior notification when animals are brought in for activities.

Mr. Allen responded to legal questions from the dais, noting that while Maryland law grants certain rights to service animals in training, the statute also allows exclusion when admitting an animal would create a danger or disturbance (citing Maryland Code Human Services provisions discussed in the meeting).

The board voted to approve the first reading unanimously. The regulation IMG AR1 was reviewed but not voted on; Mr. Llewellyn said the policy and regulation would become effective for the new school year only if the board adopts the policy at second reading.

Next steps: the policy will return for a required second reading (the board referenced an August meeting calendar), and the regulation IMG AR1 remains under review.