Policy 7.24

Animals on District Property

1. It is recognized that animals can provide educational benefits to students under certain circumstances. It is also recognized that live animals may pose a risk to the safety and health of students and staff at district facilities. This policy is therefore in accordance with State Requirements for Educational Facilities ("SREF") § 5(1)(e)6.h, under which the safety and health of employees, students and visitors may be protected.

2. General Requirements for Live Animals

1. Animals are hosts to numerous diseases that can affect humans. Animals in classrooms shall be kept in a healthy condition in appropriate cages or tanks, which are maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.

2. All animals must be handled with caution to prevent bites.

3. Employees, students, and visitors may not bring any live animals to district facilities or onto district property unless authorized by the principal or department head.

4. All employees, students, and visitors are required to wash their hands immediately after handling animals to prevent the spread of disease.

5. Animals shall not be housed in district facilities/property for longer than two (2) weeks without the written permission of the principal/department head.

6. Animals shall never be maintained in or near an area where outside makeup air is brought into district buildings.

7. Students shall not have unsupervised access to animals in district facilities/property.

8. Live animals are not permitted to be transported on school buses.

9. Principals/staff responsible for managing district facilities shall remove, or have removed, animals straying onto district facilities/property.

10. Personal protection equipment will be used that is appropriate for the bird or animal being handled. For example, birds of prey such as hawks and falcons, may require leather gauntlet gloves, while parakeets would not require any protective equipment.

11. Upon notification that an animal is contributing to or exacerbating a medical condition to a student, employee or visitor, that animal shall be removed from district property.

3. Additional Requirements for Warm-Blooded Animals

1. Employees and students are prohibited from bringing warm-blooded feral animals to district facilities/property. These wild animals may be brought to district facilities/property only within an approved program and when handled by professional, licensed wild animal handlers.

2. Employees, students, and visitors may not bring other warm-blooded animals to district facilities/property unless they have received written permission from the principal/department head.

4. Additional Requirements for Birds

1. Since psittacine birds, such as parrots and parakeets, can infect humans with psittacosis, psittacine birds shall not be housed indoors at district facilities/ property.

2. Employees, students, and visitors authorized to bring or handle any animals shall wear appropriate personal protective equipment, such as gloves, when handling birds.

5. Additional Requirements for Reptiles and Amphibians

1. Employees, students, and visitors may not bring reptiles or amphibians to district facilities/property unless they have received written permission from the principal/department head, because reptiles and amphibians are sources for ticks, salmonella, and other disease vectors.

2. Any such authorized employees, students, and visitors shall wear appropriate personal protective equipment, such as gloves, when handling reptiles or amphibians.

3. Employees and students are prohibited from bringing venomous reptiles to district facilities/property. These animals may be brought to district facilities/property only within an approved program and when handled by professional, licensed reptile handlers.

7.24(a) - 7.24(b)