COLUMBIA, IL (KTVI -FOX2now.com) -
Lawyers were back in court Monday trying to figure out how to bring a dog into a Columbia, Illinois classroom. It's all in an effort to help a little boy with autism. The boy's family and the Columbia school district had been at odds over the issue for a year. But Thursday, the judge cited an Illinois state law that permits children with disabilities to have service animals in school if the animals help them complete beneficial tasks.
The case could be tied up in court for awhile. Soon after the judge issued his ruling, the Columbia School District filed an appeal seeking to reverse the decision, much to the dismay of the boy's parents.
Melissa Kalbfeisch is excited that her five-year-old son, Carter, can go to school with his service dog, Corbin. Carter is autistic. He doesn't talk and is prone to tantrums. But when Corbin is around Carter is calm and learns new things, like swinging on the playground.
Melissa says, "He's been able to minimize Carter's tantrums and get him back into focus to get him to do what he should be doing."
A Monroe County judge has ruled that Carter can take his highly trained service dog to school starting next month.
Attorney Clay St. Clair says, "Carter will be allowed to go to school with his dog on the 14th. Unfortunately, he's got to wait for three weeks before he'll be getting those services through the school."
Carter is enrolled in special needs classes at Columbia Middle School. Under Illinois law, children with disabilities can have service animals in school if they help the youngsters complete beneficial tasks.
"It provides for the allowance of service dogs so long as they're independently trained and they benefit students with disabilities."
However, the Columbia school district, filed an appeal trying to get the judge's decision to allow the dog reversed. In court documents, the district claims, among other things, that the plaintiff did not and cannot articulate an educational benefit to his dog at school.
"We're just a little disappointed in the school district's appeal at this point. We're ready to get it over with and get Carter back in school and get his education and move it along," says Melissa.
The school district attorney had argued the dog had nothing to do with the child's educational needs. Christi Flaherty insisted since the dog was not part of the child's IEP or individual education plan, the animal should not be allowed.
Among the things to work out: how to have a dog in school when some students are allergic to animals.
The case could be tied up in court for awhile. Soon after the judge issued his ruling, the Columbia School District filed an appeal seeking to reverse the decision, much to the dismay of the boy's parents.
Melissa Kalbfeisch is excited that her five-year-old son, Carter, can go to school with his service dog, Corbin. Carter is autistic. He doesn't talk and is prone to tantrums. But when Corbin is around Carter is calm and learns new things, like swinging on the playground.
Melissa says, "He's been able to minimize Carter's tantrums and get him back into focus to get him to do what he should be doing."
A Monroe County judge has ruled that Carter can take his highly trained service dog to school starting next month.
Attorney Clay St. Clair says, "Carter will be allowed to go to school with his dog on the 14th. Unfortunately, he's got to wait for three weeks before he'll be getting those services through the school."
Carter is enrolled in special needs classes at Columbia Middle School. Under Illinois law, children with disabilities can have service animals in school if they help the youngsters complete beneficial tasks.
"It provides for the allowance of service dogs so long as they're independently trained and they benefit students with disabilities."
However, the Columbia school district, filed an appeal trying to get the judge's decision to allow the dog reversed. In court documents, the district claims, among other things, that the plaintiff did not and cannot articulate an educational benefit to his dog at school.
"We're just a little disappointed in the school district's appeal at this point. We're ready to get it over with and get Carter back in school and get his education and move it along," says Melissa.
The school district attorney had argued the dog had nothing to do with the child's educational needs. Christi Flaherty insisted since the dog was not part of the child's IEP or individual education plan, the animal should not be allowed.
Among the things to work out: how to have a dog in school when some students are allergic to animals.
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