Policy IMG
Animals in the Classroom
School Board Approved: July 23, 2018
The Board recognizes that under the proper conditions, animals can be an effective teaching aid. In order to protect both children and animals, the following guidelines are adopted for use in all school in the District:
- The bringing of animals into the classroom must not violate city/state/federal ordinance(s).
- The only animals allowed in a classroom must be for a specific and appropriate educational purpose and shall be allowed for the amount of time necessary to achieve the educational goal.
- All animals must be in good physical condition and vaccinated against transmittable disease. Dogs, cats, and ferrets will require proof of original and booster rabies vaccination.
- Special consideration should be given to the effect of furred and feathered animals on allergic children before bringing the animals into the classroom.
- The teacher will be responsible for the proper control of animals brought to school for instructional purposes, including the effective protection of children when animals are in the school. This will include keeping the animal in a appropriate cage or container and handling fecal material in a sanitary manner.
- No animals are to be allowed to run freely in the classrooms, food areas, or activity areas.
- All fecal material must be cleaned from the cage of any mammal or rodent on an as needed basis, (at a minimum of one time per week), and appropriate sanitizer used. Reptiles, fish, and insects must be cared for in a manner to minimize odor and maintain health. Persons cleaning cages must wear gloves, masks, and glasses or goggles.
It will be the responsibility of the teacher to provide for a plan of care for classroom housed animals in the event of an emergency school closing which might cause disruption of the routine care of the animals. In each school where these animals are housed, there should be a plan whereby the staff member who visits the school daily during the emergency closing will be aware of the animals’ presence and see to their care. If no staff member visits the school daily in such circumstances, the teacher is responsible for the daily care of the animal(s).
Teachers must be contacted prior to having animals in their classroom. No animal shall be at school unless the teacher involved is familiar with the appropriate care, feeding and handling of the animal and of any potential dangers caused by that animal. Many different diseases and afflictions may be transmitted by animal hair, dander, bites, and fecal material. It shall be the responsibility of the teacher to become familiar with each animal as it relates to the well-being of the individual students in the particular classroom. The Principal shall be advised of any animals to be housed in the classroom. At the Principal’s discretion, permission to keep the animal may be denied based on these considerations:
the purpose for the animal’s presence. the ability of the teacher to control the animal. the past practice in the classroom.
Unauthorized Animals on School Grounds
Unauthorized animals are not allowed in school buildings or on school grounds. Children and staff will be instructed to keep their own animals off the school grounds. The appropriate town official will be called and requested to impound all animals taken into custody by school personnel.
The Superintendent shall develop procedures stating which animals are unauthorized as well as proper handling and caging procedures of animals in buildings or on school grounds.
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