Lehighton Area School District’s staff could look different in upcoming years should a plan to add a four-legged friend to that roster come to fruition.

School nurse Kali Andrew and emotional support teacher James Gurka pitched the idea Monday night of finding grant money to bring a facility dog to Lehighton for therapeutic purposes.

“We’re passionate about the mental health of both our students and staff and a facility dog is something we have talked about for at least three or four months,” Gurka said. “When you look at things like depression and anxiety, there are tremendous benefits that a facility dog can provide for the entire district.”

Different from a therapy dog, which might visit a school for a few hours each week accompanied by a handler, a facility dog is in a building or school district on a full-time basis working under the supervision of a trained staff member.

“The dog would definitely be looked at as a member of our staff team,” Andrew said. “If we have a reading circle, for example, the dog may go over and put a paw on the reader’s leg to make them feel more comfortable. Or in the guidance office, it could go over and rest its head on the leg of the student. The results as far as helping to decrease stress levels are proven.”

While Andrew volunteered to have the dog live with her, she said multiple handlers within the district would be trained so it could be utilized in every building.

Sue Howland, high school principal, said the dog could also be used as an incentive to get students who are struggling with attendance to come to school.

“We had a small subgroup, the same 20 to 30 students, who have had attendance issues and that led to us being designated as an Additional Targeted Support and Improvement school,” Howland said. “Our thinking has been very creative in terms of how to get those students to come to school and this is some outside the box thinking that is needed to continue to improve on that.”

School board members backed the idea during Monday’s workshop meeting.

“I’ve rescued dogs for 30 years and I’ve seen the impact they can have with children,” Barbara Bowes said. “There was a young girl from South Africa in the youth group my husband was a part of in New Jersey and she was terrified of dogs but by the end of the night, she was sitting with my dog and hugging and kissing her. A lot of it has to do with the temperament of the dog, but they are especially wonderful with children.”

Director Brian Shaner, who works for Lehigh Valley Health Network, said he also sees the benefits volunteer digs have on patients on a daily basis.

The district, Andrew and Gurka said, would look for grant funding to cover the $5,000 cost of training and placement of the dog. The process, however, likely will not be a quick one.

“There is a three-year waiting list through the United Disabilities Services Foundation,” Andrew said. “The dogs are in hot demand right now. It is the big up and coming thing.”

The Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit #21 recently introduced LLASie, its facility dog that will be working at Lehigh Learning Achievement School.

Staff there, Gurka and Andrew said the canine’s effect on children is already evident.

Funding for LLASie was provided by the Carbon Lehigh Special Needs Children’s Foundation.