ING-AR(1): Animals in District Facilities

Code: ING-AR(1)

Revised/Reviewed: 3/09/07; 12/08/10; 9/10/14

Orig. Code(s): ING

In order to protect both students and animals the following guidelines are adopted for use in all schools in the district.

1. Permission must be obtained from the principal before animals are brought into the school.
2. The only animals allowed to be housed in a classroom must be for a specific and appropriate educational purpose and shall be allowed only for the amount of time necessary to achieve the educational goal.
3. All animals must be in good physical condition and vaccinated, when appropriate, against transmittable diseases.
4. Special consideration should be given to the effect of furred and feathered animals on allergic children, before bringing the animals into the classroom.
5. 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 an appropriate cage or container that prevents contact with fecal material and instruction in adequate hand washing after handling animals.
6. No animals are to be allowed to run freely in the classrooms, food areas, or activity areas.
7. All fecal material must be cleaned from the cage of any mammal or rodent on a daily basis and an appropriate sanitizer used.  Reptiles, fish, and insects must be cared for in a manner to minimize odor and maintain health.
8. No poisonous animals shall be brought into the school.

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: (1) the purpose for the animal’s presence; (2) the ability of the teacher to control the animal; and (3) the past practice in the classroom.

Animals serving persons with a disability would be an exception to this administrative regulation.