Policy 507.11
Service Animals
The school district will comply with applicable federal and state laws, regulations and rules regarding the use of service animals by disabled students.
Service animals include guide dogs, hearing dogs, signal dogs, and any dog or animal that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a disabled student, including, but not limited to, assisting students who are blind or have low vision with navigation and other tasks, alerting students who are deaf or hard of hearing to the presence of people or sounds, providing non-violent protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair, assisting a student during a seizure, alerting a student to the presence of allergens, retrieving items, providing physical support and assistance with balance and stability to students with mobility disabilities, and helping students with psychiatric and neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors. Service animals do not include pets, farm animals, wild or exotic animals, or any animals whose function is to provide crime deterrent effects, emotional support, comfort, companionship, therapeutic benefits, or to promote emotional well-being.
Animals in school district classrooms and facilities present legitimate safety, health, environmental and educational issues which effect the operations of the school district’s services, programs, and activities, and it shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to develop administrative rules and procedures so as to accommodate the use of service animals while maintaining legitimate safety requirements necessary for a safe, healthy and productive educational environment.
Legal Reference:
Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 20-126 through 129; Americans with Disabilities Act
Adopted: March 8, 2010
Revised: November 8, 2010