Board Meeting – July 12, 2019 Segment 2
[00:00:00] Action.  Yes, please.  We talked about dental screenings being something that were required that we must provide and I'm wondering how we do that.  Invite, dr. Spencer Iams. To come to the microphone because a few of these we've discussed together and she will have likely more specific responses.
This was about the question is about how the district conducts Dental screenings.
Thanks for that question. And I'm just double-checking the wording that is exactly in this policy here. Right as I'm [00:01:00] looking forward director Fitch what we have done for the last couple of years is in our kindergarten packets of registration as families register. There is a dental screening form in there where most families go forward to their dentist and have that filled out and submit that with their packet and that is in alignment with with the law and the requirements and then there's.
Within that there is wording that if a family is requesting support and getting access to a dental screening, it gives them a way to contact us and help with that support. We have a couple of Partnerships with local dental providers and a. Local dental providers that support us with that when necessary we've had very few requests [00:02:00] only a handful most families have worked with their dentist privately and turn those in with the kindergarten packets.
It's a new state report requirement to report on Dental screenings and vision screenings to the state. And so that's only been I think two years that we've been doing. I
have one additional question the ORS 336.  201 refers to.  a goal of having one nurse per 750 students. Could you tell us what the ratio is and for this?
I have that exactly on a report on my computer that I could run back and get if you wouldn't mind [00:03:00] going on to the next policy and I could be right back with that so I could give you accurate information.  That would be okay Ginger. Do you need that information to make a decision? I would like to be able to give the board and I thought we could possibly get that information.
Just whether we needed to hold the vote for it or not. I think just later. I'm just the says I recognize that the board has already reviewed these in the past and these are just minor edits, but it is the first time as a board member. I look closely at a board meeting at the so just if I can get that information in the future, I would appreciate and I don't I believe that's it's not mine at all to have these sorts of.
Ratios in in policy and we are certainly not currently at these ratios. So it is an important thing for the board to think about in adopting this policy. It could be an easy move just to go on to the next policy and [00:04:00] then doctors will come back soon return and then we can vote perfect.
All right, so we're going to Halt our discussion on this one. Okay.
I will go ahead and move that. We adopt the changes to policy IG BAC regarding special education personnel.  second.  discussion.
hearing no discussion do please call it for a vote? If anyone would like to say no, please do so.  All in favor. Thank you.  I'll move that we approve the amendments to policy JH FF reporting requirements [00:05:00] regarding sexual conduct with students.
I
second that.  The motion and a second. Is there discussion?  I have a question on this one.  And it's the same I would have for JB and / J ba. There's a current discussion at Portland Public regarding the disclosure of rockers. When a district finds sexual conduct towards a student based on the basis of a staff member or employee and I'm wondering if they talk we if there's a mention of disclosure of record.
I can't tell what we actually do it says. That we wouldn't provide a recommendation [00:06:00] of employment. But other than that, I'm unclear on what information is disclosed.
Ginger would you can you repeat the question again? My question is when there is a finding that sexual conduct with a student has occurred.  By an employee what?  Is the practice and policy for disclosure of that record?  two subsequent employers.
We follow the Oregon law very explicitly in all of you in these types of circumstances. So when [00:07:00] we first hear of the report immediately that is reported to law enforcement. And then, you know, we follow the proceedings. They're often. Our legal counsel is also involved to make sure that we are following Oregon law with all all aspects of reporting to all parties that need to know.
I think the issue of Cortland Public Schools. Is that there? We're known sexual conduct between a staff member and students that the information was protected by the union agreement. So I am.  still not clear. Dr. Ludwig on why our practice is under those circumstances and what when we say compliance with the organ a lot.
I don't know what that means in. [00:08:00] Ginger I remember reading about that as well and I share your concerns about how information is collected and shared and the importance of ensuring that information is shared appropriately so that a person can move to another institution and leave behind a history that potentially has been substantiated.
So then if I'm understanding them the ask is what is our practice with regards to sharing.  Sexual misconduct as part of their employment with our district. Should they go on to another District do or do we not share that information mation? I'm reluctant to. Make that kind of comment here without knowing Kathy Monroe isn't here.
She could probably give a little more information, but it may [00:09:00] just be circum, you know depending on case-by-case what that would be and then advised by law enforcement or legal counsel, whether it's allegation, whether it's substantiated when it becomes a Critic there does become a criminal record.
There's just a lot of nuances and ways to move through that so without our HR Director here, I don't feel. Public record. I'm going to.  Dress that. I'm not confident.
What we can revisit if the board would like us to move this one forward to August and and have staff look into it further or meet individually with a board member to address those questions and then bring it back to the whole board. That's also an option. This is always a tough one for me because I have I trust, you know, the Integrity of the decisions that you [00:10:00] make and that you're following law and so in the policy is vetted by people understand the law better than I do and so my inclination is to approve it with that Foundation of you know, Trusting the experts and the people who will be executing this policy that said I defer to director Fitch on her level of interest and discussing this further.
Director pitch. Is this the question you have similar to what chair Molitor asked before is. Your approval of these changes contingent upon knowing the answer this question or is this question separate and apart from improving the changes?  separate.
I think these questions are being asked a really good ones and but at the same time I will call [00:11:00] this for a vote if there's no further discussion Chelsea King Martin I Christy Thompson. Yes, Ginger Fitch.  Yep, Dylan hides. I try Molitor. Yes.  Dr. Spencer Imes would you come back up and share? We're going to move back up to policy and the open motion for.
Jhc. And the question that Ginger had asked was with regards to our ratios of School nurses to. Yes.  Well, I appreciate the question and we actually had the state of Han because we just submitted a collection to the state on this topic.  And
cheer Fitch. I apologize that you don't have this visually in front of you. So I will share that currently are ratios [00:12:00] of our ends registered nurses to medically fragile.
Is 1 to 53.  And our ratio of medically complex is one to 193. So we are within those ratios that are outlined in this policy. Our nurses to Total student population is one nurse to every 1894 students and there's not a there's certainly a recommendation from National School nursing and organ Department of Education as one to every 100 750.
So we're way above that recommendation, but that's numbers not here in this policy. So it doesn't bind us to that. But allows us to continue to work towards [00:13:00] a best practice as opposed to being in a policy just for your information. There's a little more information on this what I handed you that nursing dependent student count.
Sorry for the typo. There we have this is the first year that we've had a student who is has to have a student has to have a registered nurse by that student side a hundred percent of their minutes that they're in school. Because of the complexity of that child's medical needs so we had to hire an additional nurse just for that one student and we all of our nurses are RNs the point to is that is that the charter school it has which needs to be included in here and it's the where it says school nurse 1.5 that's nurses that are ends and also have a.
Teacher standards and practices commission tsp sea license of [00:14:00] school nursing. So we are allowed to hire RNs whether or not they have that tsp sea specialization and school nurse. Dr. Spencer, and could you also just remind the board give it a new board member about our EMR VRT our teams that are in each one of our buildings.
Yes. Our School nurses do a tremendous job in setting up systems. Of preventive care and preparation for emergency care and in an education those are sort of their three big components that they work in and in terms of preparation for emergency care clearly with one nurse to every 1894 kids every time there's an emergency.
There isn't going to be a nurse handy to handle that medical emergency. So in accordance with Oregon law, our school district has [00:15:00] adopted an emergency. Teen model where a number of key staff are trained every year and have Refreshers every year from our nurses on. Basic First Aid on CPR both for children adults and babies on the use of aedes on emergency.
Allergen Auto injectables, like epinephrine on use of glucagon for diabetic emergencies. So there are teams of depending on the size of the school of. Ten or eight I think at our smallest schools to about 25 at our largest schools of folks that are regularly trained and those that skill set and they also besides having those skills.
They practice how to respond to emergencies. So if a student were to [00:16:00] pass out in a class, what would we do how would we react to would go meet the ambulance who stays with the. How does that team get activated? So that's we refer to that as our ERT Emergency Response Team. So that's one of the key things that our School nurses do one of the other.
T things that they do is they help Bright Health Management protocols for students that have a health condition and trained staff to respond to those why this is such a big deal and coming forward so much is the numbers of students who are medically fragile and complex as you can see in our report here and we'll e-mail it to direct your Fitch continues to increase especially areas of diabetes.
Have increased significantly and when a student is newly identified with diabetes a school nurse literally has to be at that school by near that student. A hundred percent of the [00:17:00] time for often six to eight weeks until that student and the family and everything. They sort of figure out where those blood sugar levels need to be how to manage that care how the how to do the insulin how to do the blood sugar checks all of that sort of thing and then they may pass off in a delegated care either to the student if they're able to self manage that care or to Office Team.
Missouri RT team members that may support that when the nurse isn't present they do lots of other things too.
And ginger, I don't know if you have access to your cell phone, but I did take a picture of this sheet that dr. Spencer irons gave us and I texted it to you.  Thank you.  any other. Yeah, wanted to follow up on what check your pitch [00:18:00] was saying so it looks like we're so this is the policy addresses the ratios.
We need for the medically fragile students and the medically complex students, but it doesn't mention the ratio of students to nurses statute that we cite does. And so first question is why doesn't the policy also reference that and secondly, it appears that the number of nurses we have. Doesn't meet current policy which is one to 1500 and then by next July decreases the Oneness 700 750.
Well one one thing that I might jump in and share with you is that we're working hard, too. Develop more funding to hire more School nurses. I've been involved in several State groups that are dedicated to sort of the whole issue of. How do we get more nursing care [00:19:00] and Health Care into schools? One of the things that we have taken on a number several years ago.
We started participating in something called Medicaid administrative claiming which is a three times a year survey of staff. So. Principals school counselors various staff members that helps them at we pick a day. Well the computer picks a day and they keep track of things that they do throughout the day.
And so some of the things they do have nothing to do with healthcare because they're teaching or there supervising or they're doing their other work, but all parts of their day that have anything to do with. Healthcare helping refer kids to outside Health Providers or helping to coordinate Healthcare within schools all of that time on that day is tracked and so it gives you a sampling of waters people doing in schools to help support Healthcare and then that.
[00:20:00] Amount is multiplied by the percentage of students of children that are Medicaid eligible and Clackamas County and by a formula of the salaries and so through that we can make we have been earning additional money to help pay for health care services. That's why we've gone from two nurses when I got here in 2012 to what we have now is largely because of that.
And then this last year as the legislature has heard again. And again, we need more School nurses and there was a lot of push about how are you going to fund more Healthcare? The state legislature did a little push back and said well school districts. There are some federal dollars that you're leaving on the table in terms of Medicaid billing for medical services courts have said that Medicaid is the first payer.
For health care services, even when they're [00:21:00] delivered in a school setting. So for example, if we have a student in a wheelchair who needs physical therapy and they qualify for the Oregon Health Plan we can bill that the Oregon Health Plan for that Physical Therapy Services in schools in a way that does not in any way impact their benefits for what they can get outside of school.
We have just started doing that this year it. Very labor intensive. It's been a learning experience for me to become a registered. We are now a registered OHA provider and dealing with all of the paperwork that comes along with that. But we do that to come to you with a sense of we are leaving no stone unturned in trying to do everything we can to increase those Health supports within our school.
I support the changes to this which appear very minor but if the Optics aren't great when [00:22:00] we list of all the ratios that we meet, but we don't list the ratios that we don't need even though it sounds like we have a pretty good reasons for not meeting them and my I mean I can check again with Rick Stuckey.
My guess is that it's challenging for districts to meet that goal and putting that ratio in there would. Would force that component but there is more of a mandate towards medically fragile students then general population many of whom don't need that level of a school nurse throughout their schooling once you put a ratio in.
When the 750 First Student shows up you're hiring another teacher. Nurse, excuse me. And so there's often those kinds of constraints that a school board or even OSB a may be hesitant in putting in policy similar reasons for class size and any kind of a more stringent. [00:23:00] It's not a mandate. It's it's a goal to work towards and it's certainly one that we should but it okay.
It's not a mandate at this time. And I think that that is the key is if you read the statute those first two ratios that are put in when the statute says School District shall Ensure. So it's a mandatory snot discretion. Everyone's cheering for the 750 yet. It's encouraged but I think everyone is an agreement with you on this board from what I've heard is that you know along with dr.
Spencer. I'm so that we you know, this is an area where we have some some growth and some improvement that we can do and it looks like we're trying our best to figure out new ways to do better and we still have a lot of room for improvement.  Thank you.
Now just add prior to the end of the school year there was there was conversation about student mental health and exploration of Health Centers. So [00:24:00] I know this is important to our community as well as our board the additional funding that we would be getting through House Bill 3427. Does have one of those buckets is around student health and safety.
So I would just encourage the board to hold this discussion in mind and when we get to that place where we are making Provisions around additional Staffing and resource that comes to that funding to revisit this topic and think about what does it mean around health and well-being and safety for children and if we feel we want.
Allocate more resources in this direction. I know there's also interest in additional counselors mental health professionals. This could be another area that the board wants to revisit and thinking about budget and that specific allocation.  Okay, so I apologize if I'm asking the same question again, but I just want to make sure can you explain and I think you did the difference between where?
These ratios came from the 1414 every hundred twenty-five medical fragile [00:25:00] students and then the difference between those ratios and then where the ratio came from for the one in 750 that we're not following so doctor or sorry Ginger Fitch. I want to say chair Fitch and I'm trying to like stop myself.
So I apologize had flagged at the end of this proposed statute. Our this proposed policy our statute numbers and she had cross-referenced one of those statutes, which was 336 .2 01. And so Dylan has well, I can see his computer next to mine. We both then pulled up that statute not being as familiar with it.
Most likely as Ginger was and when you read that statute, it says it District shall Ensure. And that's where those numbers come from because the statute is mandating that we must comply with those numbers the 225 medically [00:26:00] complex and the 125 medically fragile. Dr. Spencer Imes then brought in those numbers to demonstrate that we are in compliance with that the subsequent dust discussion around just School nurses per student body number average.
This statute says schools are encouraged to have it's not it does not say in sure so it is a little more discretionary of which then dr. Spensser irons said, you know what? Yeah, we're not close to that 750. We would love to be and we're working towards it. That makes sense. Are you caught up?
Okay. Yeah. Any further discussion.
All right. This is just a reminder to when we pay for that service with 0 SVA and we have brick Stuckey and we're asking him to look for where in our policies are. [00:27:00] We not compliant with an RS or a statute and he and Peggy Halstead they both work to specifically with policy review them and then you know, let us know if there's some discrepancy with our policies and would statute.
All right. Would you please call the vote for? Jhc Chelsea King Martin. I 50 Thompson. Yes Ginger fetch.  Ellen hides. Hi, Kamala toy. Yes. All right, we're moving onto discussion or motion for policy IG BAH with regards to special education evaluation procedures. I will move that the board adopt the changes to code IG BAC.
I second.  There's been a motion in [00:28:00] the second. Is there discussion?
All right. Please call for a vote.  Trafficking Martin I Christie Thompson. Yes Ginger Fitch.  All right, Helen Heights High Chamberlain Joy. Yes. We will now move on to board policy I GBA and again, it students with disabilities. Yeah regarding students with disabilities.  I got this one. Okay, I will move that.
We approve the policy. I GBA students with disabilities.
I'll second that. It's been moved and seconded. Is there discussion?
Please call for a vote.  Chelsea King [00:29:00] Martin, I 50 Thompson. Yes Ginger fetch boy Dylan hides. Hi Pamela toy. Yes.  All right. We're now onto policy IG B AJ with regards to special education and free and appropriate public education.
Okay, I move that. We adopt the amendments to ig B AJ the policy about special education free appropriate public education. I'll second it's moved and seconded any discussion. I have a question. Yes, please.  I am not understanding whether the original number or 5 was removed or it was just badly numbered.
Thank you notes wondering that same thing Ginger.
[00:30:00] It was sorry a strikethrough in one letter A.
And badly numbered.
any further discussion we've called for vote.  Chelsea King Martin I Christie Thompson. Yes in Jeff H. All right, Ellen Heights.  Hi. Pamela toy yes, and now we are moving onto policy gcd a and GC or sorry gdd a crimp with regards to criminal records and fingerprinting. I will move that the board adopt the changes to code gcd a /gd a.
[00:31:00] I second it's been moved and seconded any discussion. Please call for a vote Chelsea King Martin. I Christie Thompson. Yes Ginger fetch. All right, Helen Heights. Hi Pamela toy. Yes.  Alright, we are now moving onto a it's a new board policy and it's Ing and it is with regards to animals in District facilities.
I will move that the board adopt. All right adopt code ing.  I second that motion. It's been moved and seconded any discussion.  yeah, this is a policy that actually have concerned with there's been a lot of research that has documented the benefits of having animals [00:32:00] in classrooms and in schools particularly things like.
Therapy dogs that children read too and you know the what it can do for the mental health and the social well-being of students to have animals in the school and I'm concerned that this policy is going to eliminate those practices and and I actually would like to see more of it so. I don't I it's going to I don't know.
I'm not inclined to support this policy at this time.  So if I could add in that opening sentence there is provision for the superintendent to approve certain animals. That would be very helpful for students to have in the classroom. There are times when people [00:33:00] do bring pets from home.  two. For convenience or.
a reason that wouldn't fit. I think what what you're suggesting or the curriculum and without a policy it's often difficult for a principal to have that conversation with a staff member or a substitute teacher around the care of and the thoughtfulness around having an animal in the presence of children who may have allergies or fears.
Or have had a response with an animal and it feels that the animal may be chosen over the need of the student at that time. So having at least something in policy allows the principal administrator and the superintendent to then have that discussion around the purpose and need of that animals presence in the classroom to benefit students.
With this policy [00:34:00] prevented teach from having a fish tank. In the classroom.  what why wouldn't it?
Dylan can you ask that? What was your question? What could I do could a teacher have a goldfish in the classroom? I mean I read this to edit would bar that from happening unless they get special permission from the superintendent. I mean we do and we actually have we've had an administrators had a snake in it.
In a tank, so it's appropriately secured and taken care of.  So this this is a reason for not those kind of purposes that I think you're suggesting but.  having no policy around being able to then respond when people do bring their personal pets and animals from home and want them just in the classroom or.
You know, I'm inclined to vote for this because I do believe that these companion Comfort animals have [00:35:00] gone. It's gone old berserk and it causes problem people bring so-called support animals that aren't safe for other people, but I also want to make sure that they're if somebody wants to bring a tarantula or a goldfish or a snake in the classroom, you know and can do so properly in educational way that there's plenty of leeway for that sort of thing.
I mean there's there's times when we the teachers are teaching a cycle around life cycle and we actually hatched chicks and there's chicks in a cage and a light and we have salmon patching and those are connected to curriculum. And we have a student who may have permission to bring in something for a show and share as long as parent and there's a cage.
I mean this is not about being not mindful of the value that animals can bring to learning and to [00:36:00] enjoyment but to not have a policy when we have animals just enter unexpectedly in a building that could. Parma student if it's not known that could cause we have had parents talking about severe allergies with pet dander and wondering if.
If the pet could be removed temporarily so without having any kind of a policy that least allows the superintendent to enter into the discussion with or administrator with the teacher or the guest teacher or the visitor.  Has made it challenging in the last few years. Can I ask a couple questions first of all, so any let's say a science teacher wanted to have a hamster or a grade school or primary teacher wanted to have it.
So all of those animals would need to be approved all classroom animals. That's my first part in the my second part is do we have how do we deal with a situation where someone has a service [00:37:00] animal but in that same school environment, we have children who have who are highly allergic? Is there how do we deal with that sort of situation?
Yeah, that latter example is complex. We haven't had that situation yet for us that I can recall we have whether there's an allergy and a service animal. Oh, I was just going to say, you know in the last few years. There was a neighboring School District that. Had that conflict and their had to just be certain Provisions made so that both needs could be met but I'll let dr.
Spencer finds shared. Yes, I'll be interested and I think one of the things that I appreciate about this discussion is that at the beginning of that policy. It does say the superintendent or designee. And so knowing that not every hamster would necessarily come across doctor Ludwig's desk, but it may be the building principal is often considered the [00:38:00] designee on those situations.
So that might reassure you a little bit thank you for clarifying that I was just thinking you're going to get a lot. Yeah beginning of the are all the emails that come to you regarding every hamster and fish that want to be in a classroom, so. Thank you, but in regards to service animals, we've actually done quite a bit of good work in the last couple of years.
We've had a number of different requests for service animals. So we've developed some good guidance and procedures for that and it includes, you know, an initial meeting where we ask only the appropriate questions about you know, is this. Dog or miniature horse, which is the only kinds of things that can be service animals trained to do a specific task for the disability that sort of thing and then, you know, we have an outline of the handling procedures all of that and then the next step that would happen before that service animal would be present would be the school nurse would then send out a notification [00:39:00] about.
To folks that there may be an animal in this class or in this Wing or in this building depending on the. Setup of the school if your child has an allergy that we don't know about. Please let us know so that we can reach out and problem-solve. We had a situation at one of our high schools where student had a legitimate reason to have a service animal and it was very helpful and useful and working well for that student, but we had a staff member who has very severe allergy and so we had to do some changing of schedule and location to make sure that we could accommodate both of those.
Very legitimate needs, you know in our smaller schools. Well, I don't know exactly what we'll do. We'll work it out to the best of our ability luckily it'll happen in a larger school where we were able to make that change in a thoughtful way.  And thank you. I just have one question more just for as we're disseminating [00:40:00] information facilities.
Is this on when you come onto District ground? Or is this inside a building? Because and the reason I ask is I know we've tried to discourage, you know, especially dogs and people show up especially the primary level. They're all waiting outside, but they're you know, sometimes not all but occasional dog Finds Its way so, you know, I'm assuming we intend school grounds as facilities, but it actually doesn't.
Clearly state so what would be the intention in that regard?
Well? If you really challenging to regulate on all district property, we do have families that bring their pet with them when they come to pick up their child and you know, as long as that's going well and safe. We've allowed for that. We're thinking more about during the instruction time in the school building on a regular basis.
Not the [00:41:00] episodic. I've brought my dog. Bus arrival time or something but principles do ask often families to be very mindful during class dismissal time, even the calmest pet can become very agitated when 50 children come, you know all out through a door and very loud and boisterous and can be startled and so it's not uncommon for perhaps a principal to say if you have an animal with you during pickup time.
Please not be right at the front entrance, but. Step back a little way to make sure that everyone's safely through they wouldn't site policy to make that statement but it really would be more out of a matter of safety and many things. Thank you for that clarification. Are we ready to call for a vote?
I'll just say one more thing. Okay. Go ahead Ginger. Yes.  I'm not inclined to vote for this because of the. [00:42:00] Third sentence which I think should have or in between session and Arrangements because I can't imagine a goldfish needs to go home for the weekend or for a break. And so I don't think that it actually is a policy that is practical and application.
Any chance you'd like to make an amendment to the motion to modify?
I thought we already had a motion on the table. You can amend the motion.  and would we be able to add and or.
There are certain arrangements with a cage or a fish tank. And then there are sometimes Arrangements of I've left enough food or water. I think. Vienna would be fine. I think would be really careful with.  What my fly
[00:43:00] doesn't need to be in there in the first place.  That is I think one for the welfare of the animal.  And also to make sure that that it's not just assumed. That the teacher or the caretaker of this animal knows that it's important to to make arrangements for often. There's snow days and animals are less than alone in the building beyond what maybe someone might expect and so just to reiterate that it shouldn't be assumed that the classroom is.
The habitat for an animal that's always conducive and to make sure proper arrangements are taken care and that really they should be under supervision of an adult because unexpected things can [00:44:00] happen and an empty building just like an empty home when you make arrangements for your own pet. Thumb is always important so it if we could Ginger I agree and I wonder if a simple Amendment might be and I can make a formal motion.
But let me just get this if animals so just inserting that word if if animals are to be kept in the classroom on days when classes are not in session Arrangements must be made for their care. Is that adequate? And now I'm tweaking policy and I'm not a lawyer but does that address the concern of the Goldfish doesn't need to be taken home every weekend.
I like it.  That
would be acceptable.  I will say okay, so I'll move [00:45:00] that we approve. You're gonna withdraw the prior motion. I don't have a motion on the table. So I don't which is that? Yeah, I'll withdraw my motion. Maybe the word appropriate arrangements.  So I move that we adopt.  Reluctantly that we adopt policy ing the policy on animals and District facilities with the amendment of the third sentence to read.
If animals are to be kept in the classroom on days when classes are not in session appropriate arrangements must be made for their care.  Could I ask that it read if animals are kept instead of to be kept yes, I think that's great.  If animals are kept in the classroom Mondays Will classroom classes are not in session appropriate arrangements must be made for their care.
a second.
I [00:46:00] second that and if I may just I'll just say one more thing here. I know we love animals don't we we love animals and that's why we're talking about this for so long.
And I appreciate the fact that it helps to have a policy in place. If a principal needs to have these conversations, I mean, of course my hope would be that we could have these conversations and people would respond appropriately without needing a policy to back that but I appreciate the fact that that does not always happen in real life.
So I will vote Yes for this policy and my hope is that we would continue to allow. Appropriate animals and even think about programs and curriculum that brings animals into our school and that there is research that backs, you know, the power of animals and bringing people together and soothing anxiety and helping with with ones while mental well-being and so my hope is that we continue to explore those possibilities.
[00:47:00] I appreciate that comment director King Martin and we do love animals. We also love the children of families that we serve and their well-being and it's it's hard when these situations come up and we have to think about who's learning is happening during the day and how that learning is going on and making sure that we're always mindful of how we create that learning environment for our children.
All right. We're going to call for a vote, please.  Chelsea King Martin I Christie Thompson. Yes Ginger Fitch and hides. Hi Pamela toy. Yes.