Dearborn Heights board approves facility therapy dog for Pulk Elementary

The Dearborn Heights School District #7 board voted to approve a contract with Kines's for Change to place one facility therapy dog at Pulk Elementary, accepting a Priority Health donation to cover the program's first‑year costs.

Claudia Porcheller, principal of Fulk Elementary, told the board she and staff had long discussed adding a school dog and that Priority Health agreed to fund the initial program. "I feel like it's a dream come true to be here in front of the board of education to ask you to approve the donation from Priority Health for a school dog for Pulk Elementary," Porcheller said during the presentation. She later told the board, "The cost for the first year for a school dog is $13,000."

The presenters said Kines's for Change (referred to in the packet and testimony as Kines/K9s for Change) will match and train a facility dog, place the dog with a trained host and provide handlers in the school. Staff identified two handlers and a host in their presentation; they said the host would keep the dog at home outside school hours, that multiple staff would be trained to handle the dog in classrooms, and that the district would carry insurance and plan a district reserve for ongoing costs. According to the presentation, ongoing routine care and insurance are estimated at about $2,500 per year after the first year.

Supporters cited research and local data showing benefits to student engagement and reading. Allison Le Fever, media specialist at Fulk, summarized district observations and said staff reviewed data suggesting improvements in reading and classroom engagement in classrooms with facility dogs. The presenters also described steps to address common concerns: incremental student introductions, use of hypoallergenic grooming protocols, alternate spaces for students with allergies or fear, and staff training on interactions.

Board members asked logistical questions about hosting, transport, vacations and retirement of a working dog; presenters said hosts and handlers would rotate responsibility and that Kines's for Change could re‑train and reassign a dog if a host stepped down. Board discussion also clarified that the district would hold ownership and insure the dog, and that certification by the placement organization is expected about a year after placement (presenters estimated a certification milestone in late June).

The board approved the agreement in a roll-call vote. Trustees recorded yes votes during the roll call in favor of the motion and the chair announced the motion carried.

Next steps: staff said they will finalize paperwork and scheduling, hosts and handlers will attend placement boot camp in January, and the district will implement training and communications protocols before wide classroom use.