First, it was service dogs popping up in public places as they helped people with disabilities.

Now, due to a change in federal restrictions, service animals can include miniature horses and in some cases, monkeys, and Wareham Public Schools has changed its handbook accordingly to support service animals other than dogs.

In one of her last orders of business as director of curriculum and instruction at Wareham Public Schools, Janice Rotella presented the new handbook for the 2014-2015 school year to the School Committee, which she said included a change in the provision to allow for other types of service animals to be present in school.

“It’s quite intriguing, said Rotella, noting that she knew of at least one school system in North Carolina that had a miniature horse within its buildings.

In 2011, federal guidelines changed to allow miniature horses to be used as service animals in addition to dogs. They are often used to help people who are blind and with other disabilities. In February, a family filed a lawsuit against the city of Blue Ash, Ohio, after officials ordered a miniature horse to be taken out of the home of a young girl who was disabled but lived in public housing.

“There’s been a change in the regulation to (include other animals),” Rotella said, adding that service monkeys have also been used around the country, as they help people who are paralyzed complete daily tasks.

Other changes to the handbook include a provision made to the student code of conduct that says a principal must give adequate warning to the parent(s) of a student who is in jeopardy of being suspended or expelled; another will allow nurses to keep EpiPens in unlocked places within schools, as well as to allow students with food allergies to carry them.

In late May, President Obama signed a new law that encourages schools to stock epinephrine, which is delivered by the EpiPens. According to the 2013-14 handbook, the EpiPens could only be kept in the main office of each school.

The School Committee unanimously approved the changes in the handbook 5-0-0.

The committee also announced the retirement of Rotella, who held the position since 2004.

“(The retirement is) bittersweet for me—I have the highest regard for this professional,” said committee Chairman Clifford Sylvia. “This individual has done remarkable things in Wareham. She’s moving on, and hopefully she’ll have a very healthy retirement.”

Rotella thanked the committee and said the Wareham school system was the best she had worked in during her career.

Rotella is reportedly headed to Washington D.C., where she will join an educational policy think-tank that conducts educational research in order to create better practices and policies within schools.