FILE:  IDDFA

 

SERVICE ANIMALS IN SCHOOLS

 

 

The Caldwell Parish School System acknowledges its responsibilities to permit students and/or adults with disabilities to be accompanied by a "service animal" in its school buildings.  The Caldwell Parish School System acknowledge 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 may be required by federal law.   The use of service animals shall be 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 at Caldwell Parish School Board, and must contain required documentation of vaccinations.  This written request must be submitted at least ten (10) business days prior to bringing the service animal to a school pr 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 in schools functions as a "service animal."
     

  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.

 

  1. 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 Caldwell Parish 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 in the discretion of the building administrator.

 

Note: "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 for the purposes of this definition." 28 CFR 35.104 (emphasis added).

 

New policy:  March, 2011

 

 

Ref:    42 USC 12101 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, 3-7-11

 

Caldwell Parish School Board