Board approves district‑owned dual‑purpose K9 for therapy and narcotics detection

The St. Genevieve County R‑II Board voted to approve a proposal to establish a district‑owned, dual‑purpose K9 program that pairs therapy duties with narcotics detection.

Officer Cusinelli presented the proposal, saying the dog would be assigned to him as handler and be present on campus for most of his shifts. He described the model as a therapy resource to help students engage and to build relationships, while also noting the dog would be trained to detect common narcotics other than marijuana (state law now restricts canine marijuana detection use in some contexts). The officer said the district would own the dog and that he would manage daily care, training and certification requirements.

Board members asked how the dual role would be handled in practice, liability and insurance coverage, and how the district would ensure the animal is approachable for students. Cusinelli said the district’s insurance carrier would be notified, handlers receive recognized certification, and vendors can select dogs with temperament and drives suited to school settings. He said the program could reduce incidents and improve student interactions.

A motion to approve the proposed dual‑purpose K9 program as presented passed by voice vote. Administrators said the district will finalize training, insurance, handler backup plans and procurement details before the dog is purchased and placed on campus.

No formal vote tally or dollar amount for purchase/training was recorded in the public discussion; board materials showed initial cost estimates and negotiable items but the board did not approve a purchase contract at the meeting.