UINTAH SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICY ACTION REVIEW

1st Reading	3/8/11	New	X
2nd Reading	4/12/11	Revised
Approved	4/12/11	Substitute

010.0900 Animals in Schools Policy

NEW POLICY

1.0 PURPOSE

Uintah School District (USD) is dedicated to protecting the health and well-being of our students and staff members, and to provide beneficial educational opportunities to our students. USD is aware that, with respect to animals on USD properties, there are both drawbacks and benefits in terms of these objectives. USD recognizes that animals may pose some health and safety risks. Conversely, animals may be utilized to promote learning. Moreover, some animals are service animals which persons are entitled to bring to USD properties pursuant to federal and state law. Accordingly, the purpose of this policy is to address the issue of animals on USD properties in a manner that promotes health, safety, education and compliance with state and federal law.

2.0 POLICY

2.1 No Animals Are Allowed on USD Properties Unless Approved by the Building Supervisor and Principal.

2.1.1 Animals are not allowed on USD properties during school hours or school activities except as set forth in this policy and with the consent of the building supervisor and principal.

2.1.2 Animals may be allowed on a USD property, if the animal is part of the curriculum of a teacher, the teacher has reviewed the matter with the building supervisor and principal, and has received the approval of the building supervisor and principal at least 48 hours in advance of the animal being on the USD property.

2.1.3 Police K-9 units are authorized with all law enforcement activities on USD property.

2.1.4 Documentation that an animal has received immunizations for any diseases which can be transmitted to humans shall be filed with the building supervisor and principal at the time the request is made to bring the animal onto the USD property. The documentation of immunization shall be from a veterinarian.

2.1.5 All animals brought onto USD properties shall at all times be under the control of a responsible adult. No physical contact between any animal and any student shall be permitted, unless the principal of the school has determined that such contact will serve an educational purpose and has given prior authorization.

2.1.6 The owner or handler of an animal shall be responsible for any damages to persons and/or property caused by the animal.

2.2 Service Animal Exception

2.2.1 According to Utah law, “service animal” includes any dog that:

2.2.1.1 is trained, or is in training, to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability;

2.2.1.2 performs work or tasks, or is in training to perform work or tasks, that are directly related to the individual's disability, including:

2.2.1.2.1 assisting an individual who is blind or has low vision with navigation or other tasks;

2.2.1.2.2 alerting an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds;

2.2.1.2.3 providing non-violent protection or rescue work;

2.2.2 USD does not discriminate on the basis of disability. USD recognizes that service animals perform important functions for some persons with disabilities, and USD strives to comply with all state and federal laws protecting persons with disabilities, including those related to service animals. Accordingly, with respect to service animals, the provisions of Section 2.0 do not apply. Instead, the following guidelines should be observed.

2.2.2.1 Any student wishing to utilize a service animal, including a service animal in training, on a USD property must contact the principal and building supervisor to request the use of a service animal on the USD property. The principal and building supervisor shall then make a determination of whether to grant the request for the service animal on a case-by-case basis. The granting of or denying of the request shall be premised upon the individual circumstances presented and controlling federal and state law.

2.2.2.2 Any USD employee wishing to utilize a service animal, including a service animal in training, on a USD property must contact the director of human resources to request the use of a service animal on the USD property. The human resources director shall then make a determination of whether to grant the request for the service animal on a case-by-case basis. The granting of or denying of the request shall be premised upon the individual circumstances presented and controlling federal and state law.

2.2.2.3 Visitors to USD properties who are accompanied by service animals shall be permitted to be accompanied by their service animals in all areas of the USD property at issue where members of the public, participants in services, programs or activities or invitees, as relevant, are allowed to go.

2.2.2.4 When a visitor seeks to bring an animal alleged to be a service animal onto a USD property, the building supervisor shall not ask about the nature or extent of the disability of the visitor, but may inquire as to whether the service animal is required because of a disability and what work or task the service animal has been trained to perform. The building supervisor should not make these inquiries if the work the animal performs is readily apparent (i.e., a dog is pulling a person’s wheelchair, etc.).

2.2.2.5 A service animal may be excluded from USD properties if the animal is out of control and the animal’s handler does not take effective action to control it, if the animal is not housebroken, if the presence of the animal fundamentally alters the nature of a service, program or activity, or if the animal poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others. If a service animal is properly excluded from a USD property, the individual with the disability shall nevertheless be permitted the opportunity to participate in the service, program or activity without having the service animal on the premises.

2.2.2.6 A service animal shall have a harness, leash or other tether unless the handler’s disability prevents him/her from using the same, or the harness, leash or other tether would interfere with the service animal’s safe, effective performance of work or tasks, in which circumstance, the animal must nevertheless be otherwise under the handler’s control.

2.2.2.7 The care and supervision of the service animal is the sole responsibility of its owner, and its owner shall be responsible for any damages caused to persons and/or property by the animal.

2.2.3 A person who is not a person with a disability has the right to be accompanied by an animal that is in training to become a service animal to portions of USD properties where service animals are permitted to go.

2.2.3.1 The principal or building supervisor may ask whether the animal is a service animal in training and what it is trained or being trained to do.

2.2.4 In the event that a service animal has been denied access to USD properties for any reason, the owner of the service animal, student or employee affected may appeal to the superintendent.