2030 Animals in Schools
ANIMALS IN SCHOOLS
The Stanwood-Camano School Board of Directors is committed to providing a healthy and safe environment for all students and staff. It is the policy of the Stanwood-Camano School District only to allow the following animals inside District schools.
1. Service animals.
2. Therapy animals; and
3. Animals are used as part of an instructional program.
Service animals:
Service animals are any dog or miniature horse that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental or physical disability. The work or tasks performed by the service animal must be directly related to the individual’s disability.
Examples of work or tasks include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Assisting individuals who are blind or have low vision with navigation and other tasks,
- Alerting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds,
- Providing nonviolent protection or rescue work,
- Pulling a wheelchair,
- Assisting an individual during a seizure,
- Retrieving items, such as medicine or the telephone,
- Providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to individuals with mobility disabilities, and
- Helping persons with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors.
The crime deterrent effects of an animal’s presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks.
It is a civil infraction to misrepresent an animal as a service animal. A student's parent/guardian who believes the student needs to bring a service animal to school or an employee who wishes to bring a service animal to school, must submit a written request to the building principal. The building principal, in consultation with the Section 504 coordinator or director of special services, as appropriate, will determine whether or not to permit the service animal in school.
Therapy Dogs/Cats:
The use of therapy dogs (cats under specific circumstances) is a goal driven, instructional intervention or activity with an articulated purpose and may also reduce human stress and anxiety that is directed and delivered by a certificated therapy animal handler. The handler’s responsibility will be in the care of the animal and fulfilling the purpose for which they are on campus. The therapy animal should not interfere with the handler’s ability to fulfill district responsibilities. Therapy animals must be certified by an agency listed in procedures 2030P.
Animals used in instructional programs:
A. Requests to include animals in the instructional program of the classroom or school will be approved by the principal and/or CTE Director. Health issues (allergies, vaccination status of the animal, indoor air quality concerns) involving students and staff will be addressed before permission is granted to allow the animal in school. Students will be given an opportunity to opt out of the activity without disruption of their learning.
B. If the instructional program involving the animal is ongoing and the animal will remain at school when school is not in session (evenings), the classroom teacher will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of animal care. Animals may not be left at school unattended over weekends or school breaks unless the classroom teacher has made arrangements for animal care. (the exception to this will be fish and insects).
C. Animals that are unacceptable for schools include, but are not limited to, wild animals, poisonous animals, wolf-hybrids, ducks, aggressive animals bred or trained to demonstrate aggression toward humans, and/or animals that have demonstrated similar aggression in the past.
D Only animals (mammals, birds, butterflies, fish, and reptiles) bred in captivity will be allowed on school property (after principal approval) due to the wide variety of diseases carried by wild animals.
E. Students are not allowed to touch or have physical contact with any animals in the classroom without having a hold-harmless liability waiver on file signed by a legal guardian. This waiver must be sent to risk management at the district office. Animals that are part of the instructional program will be under the control of their adult owner or the teacher at all times.
F. Animals will not be transported in a district-owned vehicle.
Any animal may be restricted from District property should the animal become aggressive or a nuisance, including service, therapy dogs/cats, and animals used for instructional programs.
The superintendent or designee will develop procedures to implement the policy.
Cross References:
- Policy 5010 Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action
- Policy 3210 Nondiscrimination
- Policy 2162 Education of Students With Disabilities Under
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
- Policy 2161 Special Education and Related Services for Eligible Students
- Policy 2029 Animals as Part of the Instructional Program
Legal References
- American Disabilities Act (ADA), Revised Title II Regulations, _35 Service animals
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
- RCW 28A.642 Discrimination Prohibition
- RCW 49.60.040 Definitions
- WAC 162-26 Public accommodations, disability discrimination
- WAC 392-145-021(3) General operating requirements
- WAC 392-172A-01035 Child with a disability or student eligible for special education WAC 392-172A-01155 (3) Related services
- WAC 392-190 Equal education opportunity - Unlawful discrimination prohibited
Adoption Date: 08.16.16
Stanwood-Camano School District
Revised: 05.07.24