Gone to the dogs? Las Lomitas school board could tighten campus pet rules

The Las Lomitas Elementary School District is considering changes to its policies about dogs on school campuses and district property at its Wednesday, Sept. 16, school board meeting. 

In recent years there have been reports of dog bites and aggressive incidents involving dogs at several of the district’s fields, according to Alex Driskill-Smith, a local resident who requested that the school board review its policies. 

Driskill-Smith prepared a report for the school board that tallied 12 such incidents, which Driskill-Smith said he views as an “ongoing safety incident.” He asked the school board to improve its communication and policies on the issue. 

The board is set to discuss when and under what circumstances dogs will be permitted on district property, along with safety, dog supervision and control, cleanliness, and how rules will be communicated and enforced. 

The rules would affect the campus’ of the district’s two public schools — La Entrada Middle School at 2200 Sharon Road in Menlo Park and Las Lomitas Elementary School at 299 Alameda de las Pulgas in Atherton — in addition to the district-owned campus that’s rented to Woodland School at 360 La Cuesta Drive in Ladera. 

LLESD’s current rules state that dogs are not allowed on school grounds while school is in session without prior approval. Outside of school hours, the district’s policy directs animal owners to comply with applicable city and county regulations, which require dogs to be leashed unless in a designated area. 

While dogs are required to be on-leash on school facilities,enforcement remains a problem, Driskill-Smith said in his report. LLESD installed new signs this summer which say “Dogs must be on-leash at all times on school property.” The signs were installed at several Woodland School field entrances, but new signs were still missing at several approaches, he said, including La Cuesta Drive, Andeta Way and two Ladera Recreation District entrances.

The Sept. 16 meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the La Entrada Multi-Use Room at La Entrada School, 2200 Sharon Road in Menlo Park.

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