Stevensville School District

NONINSTRUCTIONAL OPERATIONS        

Service Animal Allowance Procedure

The School District will honor requests for service animals by students or staff in accordance with the applicable Section 504 or Special Education policy adopted by the Board of Trustees. The following procedures have been developed which will help guide the administration when a request for the use of a service animal has been presented by an individual with a disability.

Inquiries: The administration shall not ask about the nature or extent of a person’s disability, but may make two inquiries to determine whether an animal qualifies as a service animal. The administration may ask if the animal is required because of a disability and what work or task the animal has been trained to perform. The administration shall not require documentation, such as proof that the animal has been certified, trained, or licensed as a service animal. Generally, the administration may not make these inquiries about a service animal when it is readily apparent that an animal is trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability ( g., the dog is observed guiding an individual who is blind or has low vision, pulling a person’s wheelchair, or providing assistance with stability or balance to an individual with an observable mobility disability).

Exclusions: The administration may ask the individual to remove the service animal from the premises if the animal is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it, or if the animal is not housebroken. If the administration properly excludes the service animal, it shall give the individual the opportunity to participate in the service, program, or activity without having the service animal on the premises.

Surcharges: The administration shall not ask or require the individual to pay a surcharge, even if people who are accompanied by pets are required to pay fees, or to comply with other requirements generally not applicable to people without pets. If the District normally charges individuals for the damage they cause, the individual may be charged for damage caused by his or her service animal.

Miniature horses assessment factors: In determining whether reasonable modifications can be made to allow a miniature horse into a specific facility, the District shall consider:

  • The type, size, and weight of the miniature horse
  • Whether the miniature horse is housebroken, and
  • Whether the miniature horse’s presence in a specific facility compromises legitimate safety requirements that are necessary for safe

Policy History:
Promulgated on: February 12, 2002
Reviewed on: December 17, 2001; September 13, 2016; June 11, 2019
Revised on:  July 9, 2019