No animal shall be brought to school without prior permission of the Building Administrator.  The Marlborough School District is committed to providing a high-quality educational program to all students in a safe and healthy environment.

Building Administrators, in conjunction with the Health Services Providers in each building, shall utilize the Department of Public Health publication “Guidelines for Animals in Schools or on School Grounds” and review student health records to determine which animals may be allowed in the school building.  The decision of the Building Administrator shall be final.

Educational Program

Use of animals to achieve specific curriculum objectives may be allowed by the Building Administrator provided student health and safety is not jeopardized and the individual requesting that the animal be brought to school is responsible for adhering to the “Guidelines for Animals in Schools or on School Grounds” and any other conditions established by the Building Administrator to protect the health and well-being of students and staff.

Student/Staff Health

The health and well-being of students and staff is the District’s highest priority.  Animals may cause an allergic reaction or otherwise impair the health of students and/or staff. No animals may be brought to school or kept in the school, classroom, office or common area that may negatively impact the health of any student or staff that must utilize that area.  Animals that cause an allergic reaction or impair the health of students or staff shall be removed from the school immediately, so that no student or staff shall have his/her health impaired and each student and/or staff shall have full access to available educational opportunities.

Animals Prohibited from School

Rabies is a growing problem and any fur-bearing animal is susceptible to this very serious fatal disease.  Infected animals can transmit this disease to students and staff.  Based on the Massachusetts Departments of Health and Education recommendations the following animals are prohibited from schools within the Marlborough School District.

Wild Animals and Domestic Stray Animals – Because of the high incidence of rabies in bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes, and other wild carnivores, these animals should not be permitted in school buildings under any circumstances (including dead animals).

Fur-bearing Animals – (pet dogs*, cats, wolf-hybrids, ferrets, etc.) – These animals may pose a risk for transmitting rabies, as well as parasites, fleas, other diseases and injuries.

Bats – Bats pose a high risk for transmitting rabies.  Bat houses should not be installed on school grounds and bats should not be brought into school buildings.

Poisonous Animals – Spiders, venomous insects and poisonous snakes, reptiles and lizards are prohibited for safety reasons.

*Exception: Guide, Hearing and Other Service Dogs or Law Enforcement Dogs – These animals may be allowed in school or on school grounds with proof of current rabies vaccination.

Exceptions may be made with prior approval of the Superintendent of Schools or their designee.

SEL Support Dog/Animals / Non-Service Animals

A District approved SEL (Social Emotional Learning) Support dog/animal program is intended to promote student growth and success in the district’s schools.  An SEL Support dog/animal is an animal that has been individually trained, evaluated, and registered to provide animal-assisted support.  Research has shown that interacting with animals can help students by decreasing anxiety and stress and providing cognitive, physiological, social and emotional support.  However, a SEL Support dog is not a service animal. This animal must be approved by the Building Administrator and comply with all state and District laws & policies and must have appropriate Insurance certification on file with the school and District before being on site. 

1. A handler will apply to bring an emotional support dog onto the Marlborough Public Schools property or to Marlborough Public Schools activities or events in writing. Approval must be received prior to the dog attending school activities or events or being present on school property. The Handler must agree that this role would be secondary to any other professional responsibilities as defined by their employment.  Emotional Support Dog may only be brought into a Marlborough Public School or any of its affiliated programs or facilities at the sole discretion of the Superintendent or their designee. 

2. The handler must provide the following documentation prior to receiving approval:

a) Evidence from a veterinarian of the dog being up to date with required vaccinations, including rabies and receiving a clean bill of health.

b) Appropriate licensure from a local dog licensing authority.

c) Affirmation that the dog has regular flea prevention treatment and will be well-groomed while on school property or at school activities/events.

d) Evidence that the owner has liability insurance which would cover any damages or injuries caused by the dog´s presence at school and/or school activities and events.

e) In the Handler’s initial written request, it must state that the handler is responsible for any damage caused by their Emotional Support Dog animal.

f) Evidence that any Emotional Support dog has received an Emotional Support Dog certification from a national therapy dog organization.

3. The Emotional Support Dog must be obedient, calm as well as affectionate and friendly to strangers.

4. The Emotional Support Dog will only be permitted in authorized areas within and outside of the school building.

5. When using an Emotional Support Dog in a school setting, the dog must always be under control of the handler with either a harness or a leash no longer than four feet, unless holding such a leash would interfere with the Emotional Support Dog´s safe, effective performance of its work or tasks. The handler shall always maintain control of the Emotional Support Dog and shall not tether the Emotional Support Dog to any individual or object. The school is not responsible for providing the handler or for handling the dog.

6. The handler and Emotional Support Dog will wear appropriate identification identifying them as a registered handler and Emotional Support Dog.

7. The handlers of an Emotional Support Dog are responsible for the supervision and care of the animal while on school property including feeding, exercising, and cleaning up after the animal.

8. The Building Administrator will notify families, students, and staff whenever an Emotional Support Dog will be present on school property or at school activities and events. Families, students, and staff will have the opportunity to express their wish to avoid the Emotional Support Dog. The handler shall remove the Emotional Support Dog to a separate area as designated by the building administrator in such instances where any student or school employee who suffers dog allergies or aversions is present in an office, hallway, or classroom.

9. The Superintendent or their designee may withdraw approval for an Emotional Support Dog at any time at their sole discretion. If a building administrator determines that the dog poses a threat to the health or safety of students and staff and/or detracts from educational programs of the school, the handler shall immediately remove their therapy dog from school property when instructed to do so by a school administrator.

Service Animals (Guide or Assistance Dogs)

The Marlborough School Committee does not permit discrimination against individuals with disabilities, including those who require the assistance of a service animal.  The District will comply with Massachusetts Law concerning the rights of persons with guide or assistance dogs and with Federal Law and will permit such animals on school premises and on school transportation.

For purposes of this policy, a “service animal” includes any dog that has been individually trained to do the work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability.  The regulations further state that  “a public entity shall make reasonable modifications in policies, practices or procedures to permit the use of miniature horse by an individual with a disability if the horse has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of the individual with the disability.”

Service animals perform some of the functions and tasks that individuals with disabilities cannot perform themselves.  Service animals are not pets.  There are several kinds of service animals that assist individuals with disabilities.  Examples include, but are not limited to, animals that:

·         Assist individuals who are blind or have severe sight impairments as “seeing eye dogs” or “guide dogs;”

·         Alert individuals with hearing impairments to sounds;

·         Pull wheelchairs or carry and pick-up items for individuals with mobility impairments; and

·         Assist individuals with mobility impairments with balance.

The District shall not assume or take custody or control of, or responsibility for, any service animal or the care or feeding thereof.  The owner or person having custody and control of the animal shall be liable for any damage to persons, premises, property or facilities caused by the service animal, including, but not limited to, clean up, stain removal, etc.

If, in the opinion of the Building Administrator or authorized designee, any service animal that is not in the control of its handler, or if it is not housebroken, the service animal may be excluded from the school or program.  The service animal can also be excluded if it presents a direct and immediate threat to others in the school.  The parent or guardian of the student having custody and control of the animal will be required to remove the service animal from District premises immediately.

If any student or staff member assigned to the classroom in which a service animal is permitted suffers an allergic reaction to the animal, the person having custody and control of the animal will be required to remove the animal to a different location designated by the Building Administrator or designee and an alternative plan will be developed with appropriate District staff.  Such plan could include the reassignment of the person having custody and control of the animal to a different classroom assignment.  This will also apply if an individual on school transportation suffers an allergic reaction.  In this case, an alternate plan will be developed in coordination with appropriate school, District and transportation staff including the involvement of the parents/guardian of the students.

When a student will be accompanied by a service animal, at school or in other District facilities on a regular basis, such staff member or such student’s parent or guardian, as well as the animal’s owner and any other person who will have custody and control of the animal will be required to sign a document stating that they have read and understood the foregoing.

The Superintendent of Schools or their designee shall be responsible for developing procedures to accommodate a student’s use of an assistance animal in District facilities and on school transportation vehicles.

Approved by School Committee 2/10/15

                                                                                                                        Approved: 2.25.20

Approved: 7/24/24

Approved: 6/24/25