The Governing Board recognizes that animals can contribute to the district's instructional program by being effective teaching aids to students and by assisting individuals with disabilities to access district programs and activities. In addition, instruction related to the care and treatment of animals teaches students a sense of responsibility and promotes the humane treatment of living creatures.
(cf. 0410 - Nondiscrimination in District Programs and Activities)
(cf. 6142.4 - Service Learning/Community Service Classes)
(cf. 6159 - Individualized Education Program)
(cf. 6164.4 - Identification and Evaluation of Individuals for Special Education)
(cf. 6164.6 - Identification and Education Under Section 504)
The Superintendent or designee shall develop rules and procedures to ensure that when animals are brought to school, the health, safety, and welfare of students, staff, and the animals are protected. However, the district assumes no liability for the safety of animals allowed on district property.
(cf. 3320 - Claims and Actions Against the District)
(cf. 3530 - Risk Management/Insurance)
(cf. 5141.21 - Administering Medication and Monitoring Health Conditions)
(cf. 5141.23 - Asthma Management)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
233.5 Instruction in kindness to pets and humane treatment of living creatures
39839 Transportation of guide dogs, signal dogs, service dogs
51202 Instruction in personal and public health and safety
51540 Safe and humane treatment of animals at school
CIVIL CODE
54.1 Access to public places
54.2 Guide, signal, or service dogs, right to accompany
GOVERNMENT CODE
810-996.6 California Tort Claims Act, especially:
815 Liability for injuries generally; immunity of public entity
835 Conditions of liability
VEHICLE CODE
21113 Public grounds
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 13
1216 Transportation of property
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 20
1400-1482 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 29
794 Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 28
35.104 Definitions
35.136 Service animals
COURT DECISIONS
Sullivan v. Vallejo City USD, (1990) 731 F.Supp. 947
Management Resources:
FEDERAL REGISTER
Rules and Regulations, September 15, 2010, Vol. 75, Number 178, pages 56164-56236
CSBA PUBLICATIONS
Indoor Air Quality: Governing Board Actions for Creating Healthy School Environments, Policy Brief, July 2008
Asthma Management in the Schools, Policy Brief, March 2008
WEB SITES:
CSBA: http://www.csba.org
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: http://www.aspca.org
Humane Society of the United States: http://www.hsus.org
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr
Policy BELLEVUE UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: June 7, 2013 Santa Rosa, California