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Therapy dogs’ Pause for Safety program wins praise from Mount Pleasant Area SD board
Summary
Volunteers Melissa and Jeff Stall told the board their Pause for Safety therapy-dog visits reached dozens of buildings this year; volunteers say visits reduced student anxiety and cost the district nothing. The board thanked the team and will review a streamlined scheduling process over the summer.
Mount Pleasant Area SD board members heard a presentation from Pause for Safety volunteers Melissa and Jeff Stall on the program’s first full year in district schools and responded with unanimous appreciation.
"I was so floored," Melissa Stall said, describing the program’s reach. She told the board the team recorded 146 school-day visits across the year and that their dog Maverick attended about 91 of those days. At some large events the volunteers estimated they had the potential to cross paths with roughly 36,000 students, staff and family members over the course of the year. "It just made me so happy to see the difference these dogs can make," she said.
Stall said the dogs were especially helpful with students who were nervous about attending school and with life-skills classes; teachers and parents provided positive feedback, she said. She noted the program is volunteer-run and does not bill the district for visits.
To make scheduling easier next year, Stall asked that teachers email their building principal, Anna and the Pause for Safety coordinator so the coordinator can block tentative dates and avoid conflicts. The Stalls also offered paperwork for two backup volunteers (Sarah Kuchma and Talia Stoco) who have cleared certifications and could substitute when needed.
Board members thanked the volunteers for the program’s positive effect on students and staff, and the board agreed to review the proposed scheduling process over the summer so the program can continue next school year.
The presentation closed with board members welcoming new hires and expressing support for continuing the program as part of broader student mental-health supports. The board did not take formal action on the program during the meeting; administrators will follow up on scheduling logistics as requested.
