PETOSKEY — The Petoskey Pack could also be rising, bringing extra remedy dogs into the district if an upcoming proposal is authorized by the Public Schools of Petoskey Board of Education.
Petoskey faculties at present have two remedy dogs that work within the district, together with Poppy at the highschool and Henry, who primarily works at Lincoln Elementary School.
Katie Frentz, a highschool counselor, and Kristin Frey, a fourth grade trainer at Lincoln, spoke to the board of schooling throughout their Thursday assembly. They spoke a few plan for buying dogs and coaching in every college.
The board is awaiting a proper proposal however realized extra about potential plans to carry extra remedy dogs into the district.
When Poppy and Henry have been introduced into the district, they have been each a part of pilot packages, with barely completely different paths.
More: Lincoln Elementary School remedy canine to begin work May 22
Frentz and Frey labored collectively to provide you with a course of for bringing a brand new canine into the colleges, and outlined the expectations of the employees member that might function the remedy canine’s host household.
The two mentioned having 5-year commitments to make sure there’s not loads of turnover, and a minimal of three to 5 educated employees members at every college to function a handler. The aim could be to have the coach come to Petoskey to coach anybody who could be curious about being a handler, so the canine would obtain constant cues.
Different expectations embrace the requirement to deal with vet payments and maintain the canine updated on vaccines, in addition to offering the funding for the canine’s meals. The district could be answerable for paying for the canine’s coaching.
The host trainer would even be answerable for the canine’s provides in school, however would have the ability to apply for grant funding to assist cowl prices, Frentz stated.
Teachers curious about making use of would additionally must be keen and in a position to carry the canine to coaching sometimes, which is in Goodrich, Michigan.
Host lecturers for every college could be chosen by the district remedy canine committee, Frey stated.
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There are two completely different choices for buying the canine, with both the host household buying the canine after which the district buying the canine after its coaching is full, or the district buying the canine outright. Dogs could be both Labrador retrievers or doodle mixes, as these are the breeds the trainers have probably the most expertise with.
Funding could be made available by means of the Petoskey Pack fund, which already exists to help Henry and Poppy.
The board will obtain a proper proposal earlier than deciding whether or not or to not carry on further dogs.
The District Teaching and Learning Committee may also obtain a presentation throughout their February assembly earlier than the board votes.
— Contact reporter Karly Graham at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at @KarlyGrahamJRN.
