School Resource Dog Program at Adrian schools will be expanded after school board vote

• Adrian Public Schools is adding five school resource dogs to its district.
• The dogs will provide emotional support and security to students and staff.
• The dogs will be present at the schools throughout the entire school day with their handlers.
• Funding for the program will be paid for through the district’s per-pupil mental health grant funds.

ADRIAN — There will be some additional four-legged and furry working dogs being employed at Adrian Public Schools over the next couple of weeks and at the start of the 2025-26 school year.

Five canines will join the district as school resource dogs at Alexander, Lincoln, Michener and Prairie elementary schools as well as Springbrook Middle School. The dogs are already in the process of familiarizing themselves with each building they will be assigned to and are working with their specific handlers for training and commands.

The Adrian Board of Education approved for the expansion of its School Resource Dog Program during their Monday, March 10 regular meeting. The approval was unanimous, and also included costs and services associated with training of the dogs.

School board Vice President Jon Baucher was absent from the meeting.

Perry’s Dog Training Services was approved for conducting the needed training at a total bid cost of $40,005 for initial training. This includes $34,290 for training for five dogs and $5,715 for training for five dog handlers.

After that amount of money has been paid, there will be ongoing annual costs to the district of $9,906 for additional training for the dogs and their handlers.

Perry’s Dog Training Services was the lowest of two bids received, the other coming from Robin Ford Dog Training at $41,250 for initial training costs and $14,300 in annual ongoing training costs for the dogs and handlers.

Each of the five new dogs joining Adrian Public Schools will be trained for and tasked with providing basic obedience services, weapons/odor detection and emotional/mental health support. Each of these tasks are an extension of APS’ current School Resource Dog Program that is led by Charlie, a copper-colored goldendoodle, at Adrian High School.

Charlie is the high school’s safety and support dog and works regularly with Adrian Police Officer Josh Perry, who is Adrian Public Schools’ SRO (school resource officer). Perry is a dog trainer and has been the Adrian Police Department’s K9 officer for several years, going back to when the department got its first patrol dog in 2007.

Charlie is trained to detect weapons, particularly guns and ammunition, and explosives.

More: Police dog Charlie provides emotional therapy, safety skills at Adrian schools

“(Charlie) has been such a great addition,” Adrian Superintendent Nate Parker said following Monday’s school board meeting. “It really has an impact in our ability to help kids regulate. The opportunity to do that in each of our buildings was paramount. Charlie turned out to be better than we thought he would be.”

Perry will now work with the five new dogs along with their handlers and building principals. Some training has already begun, but the bulk of training is expected this summer.

Funding for the costs associated with the resource dog program and training will be paid for through the district’s per-pupil mental health grant funds, which are awarded to school districts throughout Michigan by the state.

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Get to know APS’ five new school resource dogs

There was a parade of dogs on Monday during the school board’s meeting as handlers and building administrators introduced each of the service dogs.

• Ace will work at Alexander Elementary School.
• Dale will work at Lincoln Elementary School.
• Maple will work at Michener Elementary School.
• Bleu will work at Prairie Elementary School.
• Beau will work at Springbrook Middle School.

When on the job, the dogs will stay at school for the entirety of the day with their handlers.

“(The dogs) will come to school with a handler, and they’ll go home with a handler,” Parker said. “… If they all do their job as well as Charlie, this will be a great thing. (Charlie) is definitely the model.”

Three of the handlers are building administrators: Shanan Henline, principal at Alexander; Callie Yatzek, dean of students at Prairie; and Jason Skeels, assistant principal at Springbrook.

Special education/intervention teacher Laurie Chenevey at Lincoln will serve as that elementary school’s handler. Ann Lacasse, principal at Michener, will work with Maple during the school day. Maple will then go home with Nikki Culley, APS’ director of human resources.

The district has surveyed parents, students and staff if they are allergic to dogs or might be afraid of dogs before considering the extension of the School Resource Dog Program, Parker said.

“We’ve seen firsthand how Charlie has positively impacted students,” Parker said. “This expansion reflects our commitment to providing not only emotional support but also a safe learning environment for all of our students.”

— Contact reporter Brad Heineman at bheineman@lenconnect.com or follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @LenaweeHeineman.

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