FILE:  IDDFB

 

SERVICE ANIMALS IN SCHOOLS

 

 

The Monroe City School Board acknowledges its responsibilities to permit students and/or adults with disabilities to be accompanied by a "service animal" in it school buildings, in classrooms, and at school functions, as be required by the Americans with Disabilities Act, 28 CFR Part 35, subject to the following:

 

  1. All requests for an individual with a disability to be accompanied by a service animal must be addressed in writing to the Superintendent of Monroe City Schools, and must contain required documentation of vaccinations, specify the need for use of the service animal; and identify the work or tasks performed for the individual with a disability by the service animal.  This written request must be delivered to the Superintendent of Schools’ office at least ten (10) business days prior to bringing the service animal to a school or school function.

  2. The animal must be a dog or, in specific circumstances, a miniature horse.  No other species of animal, whether wild or domestic, will be permitted to function as a "service animal" in schools or at school functions.

  3. Owners of a service dog must provide annual proof of the following vaccinations: DHLPPC (Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Paroinfluenza, Parovirus, Coronavirus), Bordetella, and Rabies.

  4. Owners of a service miniature horse must provide annual proof of the following vaccinations:  Equine Infectious Anemia (Coggins Test), Rabies, Tetanus, Encephalomyelitis, Rhinoneumonitis, Influenza, and Strangles.

  5. All service dogs must be spayed or neutered.

  6. All service animals must be treated for, and kept free of, fleas and ticks.

  7. All service animals must be kept clean and groomed to avoid shedding and dander.

  8. Owners of service animals shall be liable for any harm, damages, or injury caused by the animal to other students, staff, visitors, and/or property.

  9. The animal must be "required" for the individual with a disability.

  10. The animal must be "individually trained" to do work or a task for the benefit of the Individual with a disability.

  11. The work or tasks performed by a service animal must be directly related to the individual's disability.

  12. Special Provisions/Miniature Horses:  Requests to permit a miniature horse to accompany a student or adult with a disability in school buildings, in classrooms, or at school functions, shall be handled on a case-by-case basis, considering:

 

  1. The type, size, and weight of the miniature horse and whether the facility can accommodate these features.

  2. Whether the handler has sufficient control of the miniature horse.

  3. Whether the miniature horse is housebroken.

  4. Whether the miniature horse's presence in a specific facility compromises legitimate safety requirements that are necessary for safe operation of that facility.

 

  1. Removal of a Service Animal:   A school administrator may ask an individual with a disability or his/her parents to remove a service animal from a school building, a classroom, or from a school function, if any one of the following circumstances occurs:

 

  1. The animal is out of control and the animal's handler does not take effective action to control it.

  2. The animal is not housebroken.

  3. The animal's presence would "fundamentally alter" the nature of the service, program, or activity.

 

  1. A service animal must have a harness, leash, or other tether, unless either the handler is unable because of a disability to use a harness, leash, or other tether, or the use of a harness, leash, or other tether would interfere with the service animal's safe, effective performance of work or tasks, in which case the service animal must be otherwise under the handler's control.

  2. The Monroe City School Board shall not be responsible for the care or supervision of a service animal, including walking the animal or responding to the animal's need to relieve itself.

 

  1. The School Board shall not be responsible for providing a staff member to walk the service animal or to provide any other care or assistance to the animal.

  2. Students with service animals shall be expected to care and supervise their animal.  In the case of a young child or a student with disabilities who is unable to care for or supervise his/her service animal, the parent shall be responsible for providing care and supervision of the animal. Issues related to the care and supervision of service animals shall be addressed on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the building administrator.

 

  1. A service animal shall be considered the personal property of the individual with a disability.  The School Board shall not be responsible for the training, daily care, feeding, healthcare, or supervision of a service animal.  Consistent with general policies of the School Board, an individual with a disability may be responsible for damages caused by his/her service animal which on school property or during school-related activities.

  2. Owners of a service animal must provide a certificate of insurance (homeowners or equivalent) with liability coverage in the event of injury to persons or property caused by the animal with limits of not less than $100,000/$300,000, and must maintain such coverage at all times during which the animal is at school or a school function.

 

New policy:  September, 2012

Recoded from IDDFA:  October 1, 2019

 

 

Ref:    42 USC 1201 et seq. (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990)

28 CFR, Part 35 (Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in State and Local Government Services)

Board minutes, 10-1-19

 

Monroe City School Board