School Committee Takes Action On New Animal Policy

Most animals are now prohibited from entering school grounds after a decision made by the Stoneham School Committee during their meeting on Thursday night at .

With new rules regarding service animals set in place from changes to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Superintendent Les Olson recommended to the Committee that nearly all animals would be prohibited from being brought to any school or being kept in any part of school property.  

The ban extends to all wild animals, domestic stray animals, fur-bearing animals, bats or poisonous animals with the exception of animals used by law enforcement agencies and animals trained to assist the disabled.

However, even service or law enforcement animals would require prior authorization from building principals before being allowed onto school property and even then, they may be excluded or removed from the school if it's found that they have not been housebroken, given proper vaccinations or if they're placed in an area that causes allergic reactions to students or faculty.

Under the new policy, service animals are defined as any dog or miniature horse “that has been individually trained to do the work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability.”

While the School Committee normally gives two readings to any proposed new policy, that rule was waived due to the fact that the superintendent’s office was only notified of the new ADA changes the previous week and they were set into place as federal law two days before the meeting.

Discussion on the new policy also sparked talk of potentially enhancing enforcement of previously approved policies prohibiting residents from walking their dogs on school property that some residents had ignored in the past.

While no clear initiatives were agreed upon regarding this point, the possibility of more signs informing the public that dogs were not permitted on school property appeared to be a potential option.

Even without the new ADA guidelines, there was a consensus among School Committee members that maintaining a safe and productive atmosphere for students was paramount over any other considerations when it came to the issue of animals on school property.

“I’m a dog owner, and I love dogs, but there are kids that are very much afraid (of dogs),” said School Committee chairperson Shelly MacNeill.  “They’re animals, you never know what might happen.”

The Committee voted 4-0 to approve the new policy, with no vote from School Committee member Shawn McCarthy, who was absent.