SHENANDOAH - Shenandoah Valley has banned animals from school property.
In a voice vote at Wednesday's meeting, the school board unanimously set the policy "banning live, domestic animals from being brought into school district buildings or permitted on school property between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on days when school is in session."
"Several weeks ago, there was a report of a pit bull here on school property," Superintendent Stanley G. Rakowsky said after the meeting. "Around that time there was a board committee meeting and it was discussed what was being done about it."
Rakowsky said the dog was brought onto the property by a parent or a visitor. He was not sure if the dog was on a leash.
"It was at the elementary building at the end of the day and it caused a lot of anxiety with some people," Rakowsky said. "It might have been about the time there was an incident in town."
Borough police have been called to North Vine Street (near the school district) in recent months for pit bull problems. Rakowsky said they may have caused worries, though there was no problem behavior with the pit bull that was on school property.
Rakowsky said that since no specific animal or breed can be specified, the policy was developed that reflected a general ban of animals.
The policy exceptions are:
- For the day-to-day operation of classrooms where animals are normally used in the course of study or in classrooms where they are normally displayed for either educational or decorative purposes. Prior approval of the principal is required.
- Animals trained to assist the physically impaired, such as a guide dog, shall have unlimited access to district property when being used for that purpose.
- Animals under the control of public safety officials shall have reasonable access to district property for exercise, educational and public relations purposes with proper notification of such visits being coordinated with administration. Use of these animals by law enforcement officials is under the jurisdiction of state and federal law and is not covered by this policy.