Proposed amendments to Policy IMG, "Service Animals" are before the Board for a Public Hearing. The proposed amendments allow CMS to conform to federal and state regulatory changes since the Board's last update of Policy IMG in 2011. The new policy language was developed over the past 18 months with CMS personnel from multiple departments comparing how other North Carolina School Districts handle service animal policies as well as taking best practices from other states. This policy change was considered by the Policy Committee on July 13, 2017 and was approved by a 3 – 0 vote. The Board held its First Reading on this policy change at their July 25th Board Meeting and the first Public Hearing was held at the August 8th Board Meeting.