District 87 to allow therapy dogs in school

Posted on April 27, 2017
District 87
Trained therapy dogs would be allowed in District 87 schools under a proposal the school board is expected to consider. (WJBC file photo)

By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – District 87 students who are under stress could get some fur therapy at school.

Superintendent Barry Reilly told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin and Patti Penn therapy dogs can help schools serve a greater role in providing mental health care for students, something he says is become more scarce outside the classroom because of the state budget crisis.

PODCAST: Listen to Scott and Patti’s interview with Reilly on WJBC.

“We really can tie it to what’s happening with budgets and the squeeze especially on our agencies that serve the needs of people out in the community,” Reilly said. “As those (services) have diminished, we seem more things that come into the school.”

Reilly said he has seen the benefits that a therapy dog can have. There’s one at Bent Elementary now.

“Kids can go into the office at some point if they are struggling with something,” Reilly said. “It really takes the anxiety away. It’s good to see in action.”

The school board is expected to vote on the change later this year.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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