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Garfield Re-2 Policies

JLIF-R-Service Animals

JLIF-R

Service Animals

Procedure

 

  1. A request for an individual with a disability to be accompanied by a service animal in school or at a school-related function must be made in writing to the Director of Special Education and delivered to the director at least 10 days prior to bringing the service animal to school or a school function.

 

  1. As part of the process of reviewing the request, the Director of Special Education may ask for the following:
    1. Whether the animal is required due to a disability and
    2. What work or task the animal has been trained to perform?  The work or task performed must be directly related to the individual's disability. The provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort or companionship or crime deterrent effects of an animal's presence do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.

 

  1. The student, parent or guardian may not be asked about the nature or extent of his or her disability, nor is the student, parent or guardian required to provide documentation that the animal is certified, trained, or licensed as a service animal.

 

  1. The individual requesting to be accompanied by a service animal is responsible for the following:
    1. Providing annual proof of the required vaccinations for service dogs, such as DHLPPC (Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus, Coronavirus, Bordetella and Rabies)
    2. Treating for and keeping free from fleas and ticks
    3. Housebreaking service animal
    4. Cleaning and grooming to reduce shedding and dander
    5. Any liability for any harm or injury caused by the animal to other students, staff, visitors, and/or property and must provide proof of current liability insurance coverage as required by the Board of Education.
    6. Using a harness, leash or other tether, unless either the handler is unable to because of the disability to use a tether, or the use of the 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.
    7. Caring for and supervising the service animal, including walking the animal or responding to the animal's need to relieve itself. If a student with a service animal is unable to care for or supervise the service animal, the parent is responsible for providing care and supervision of the animal, except as defined below. The District may decide that is a "reasonable modification" under the ADA for a school official to assist or monitor a student when using his or her service animal at school, such as by assisting the student in tethering and untethering the service animal, by giving commands to the animal, or by escorting the animal on campus.

 

  1. A service animal may be required to be removed from a school building, classroom, or school function under any of the following circumstances:
    1. The animal is out of control, and the animal's handler does not take effective action to control it, provided reasonable accommodations have been made by the District (if necessary).
    2. The animal is not housebroken.
    3. The animal's presence would fundamentally alter the nature of the service, program, or activity.
    4. The animal provides a direct threat to the health or safety of others that cannot be terminated by reasonable modifications.



 

Adopted:     February 26, 2019



 

Garfield School District No. Re-2, Rifle, Colorado

 

  • J - Students