A year ago, the Mid-Prairie School District made the decision to acquire two therapy dogs, and Superintendent Mark Schneider believes they’ve been a great success. He said the feedback from the three elementary schools has been very positive, and that it’s changed the climate and the behavior of the students noticeably. He said the students loved when the dogs greeted them when they entered school in the morning. Some of the teachers even used them as reading buddies, and as an incentive.

At the most recent school board meeting, the board reflected on the positives of the endeavor, and finalized policies regarding the use and compensation of the therapy dogs and their handlers. One of the dogs the school had this past year was handled by departing principal Theresa Beenblossom, so that dog will be going with her to Washington. However, Schneider says Mid-Prairie will have a new dog by October at the latest.