References:

Americans with Disabilities Act (as amended 2008); 28 C.F.R. Part 35
Utah Code Ann. § 62A-5b-101 through 104

Weber School District acknowledges its obligation to permit students and/or adults with disabilities to be accompanied by a service animal in its school buildings, classrooms, and at school functions as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (as amended 2008) and Utah statute.

1. A “service animal” means a dog or miniature horse individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability.  For example, work or tasks may include, but are not limited to: guiding a person with impaired vision; alerting a person with impaired hearing to intruders or sounds; providing minimal protection or rescue work; pulling a wheelchair; fetching dropped items; providing physical support and assistance with balance/stability; or helping persons with neurological disabilities by preventing or interrupting impulsive or destructive behaviors.
    
   The crime deterrent effects of an animal’s presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.  Therefore, an “emotional support animal” or “therapy animal” is not considered a service animal.
   
   
2. The service animal must be:
   • 2.1 Required because the individual has a disability; and
   • 2.2 Individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of the individual with a disability.
     
     
3. A service animal may only be a dog or a miniature horse as detailed below.  No wild animals (trained or untrained) will be permitted in schools as a service animal.
   
   
4. Requests to permit a miniature horse to accompany a student or adult with a disability in school buildings, classrooms, or at school functions will be handled on a case-by-case basis, considering:
   
   • 4.1 The type, size, and weight of the miniature horse and whether the facility can accommodate these features.
   • 4.2 Whether the student or adult with the disability has sufficient control of the miniature horse.
   • 4.3 Whether the miniature horse is housebroken.
   • 4.4 Whether the miniature horse’s presence in a school building, classroom, or school function compromises legitimate safety requirements that are necessary for safe operations.
     
     
5. Due to the District’s need to accommodate a variety of disabilities and conditions (which may include the competing needs of children and/or staff with animal allergies or fears), early notification of the need for a service animal is encouraged.
   
   For student accommodations – Director of Student Services
   For employee accommodations – Director of Human Resources
   For adult visitors – Director of Facilities and Operations
   
   Requests may be directed to: Weber School District, 5320 Adams Ave. Pkwy., Ogden UT 84405, (phone: 801-476-7800) to the attention of the appropriate director described above prior to bringing the service animal to school or to a school function.
   
   
   • 5.1 The request should include the following:
     • 5.1 A. The individual’s name, school, and a description of the school functions at which the service animal is requested to be used;
     • 5.1 B. An affirmation that the animal is required because of a disability;
     • 5.1 C. A description of the work or tasks that the service animal has been trained to provide for the person with the disability, and
     • 5.1 D. Proof of required rabies vaccination (and any additional vaccinations required by Weber County Animal Control).
   • 5.2 Written approval will be sent via U.S. mail by the appropriate director as described above.  A copy will be sent to the school.
   • 5.3 The information in numbers 2 and 3 above will be requested for animals brought to campus without prior notice.
     
     
6. To avoid confusion about whether an animal is a permitted service animal, a person accompanied by a service animal while at school or at school functions is requested to exhibit one of the following:
   • 6.1 The animal’s laminated identification card;
   • 6.2 The animal’s service vest; or
   • 6.3 Another form of identification sufficient to put others on notice that the animal is a service animal.
     
     
7. Permitted service animals should be:
   • 7.1 Treated for, and kept free of, fleas and ticks;
   • 7.2 Kept clean and groomed to minimize shedding and dander;
   • 7.3 Spayed or neutered; and
   • 7.4 Housebroken.
     
     
8. All service animals must have a harness, leash, or other tether.  The exception to this would be if either:
   • 8.1 The handler is unable because of the disability to use a harness, leash, or other tether, or
   • 8.2 The use of a harness, leash, or other tether would interfere with the service animal’s safe, effective performance of work or tasks.  In such cases, the service animal must be otherwise effectively under the handler’s control such as through the use of voice commands or hand signals.
     
     
9. The District or the individual school is not responsible for providing a staff member to walk the service animal or to provide any care or assistance to the animal.
   • 9.1 Students with service animals are expected to care for and supervise their animal.
   • 9.2 In the case of a young child or a student with a disability who is unable to care for or supervise the animal due to their disability, care for or supervision of the service animal will be addressed on a case-by-case basis with the school administration.
   • 9.3 If parents choose to provide a handler for the service animal, the handler must be fingerprinted and have a background check.
     
     
10. A school administrator may ask an individual with a disability or the child’s parents to remove a service animal from the school building, classroom, or from a school function if any one of the following circumstances occurs:
    • 10.1 The animal is out of control and the animal’s handler does not take effective action to control the animal.
    • 10.2 The animal’s presence fundamentally alters the nature of the service, program or activity.
      
      If the school administrator is considering removal of a service animal, the administrator must contact the appropriate district director prior to the removal of the service animal.  The director will determine if Risk Management should be contacted.
      
      
11. In the event a service animal is removed, excluded, or otherwise prohibited, the individual with a disability shall be given the opportunity to participate in the service, program, or activity at issue without the accompaniment of the service animal.

Approved by the Board 12/07/2011