This week, the Ontario government announced its plan to make legislative changes to the Safe Schools Act to effectively combine discipline with opportunities for students to continue their education.
The proposed amendments will address some of the issues that have been raised by schools across the province about the consistency and fairness of the current legislation and will allow schools more flexibility when dealing with student discipline.
The key components of the proposed amendments are:
· To add bullying, including cyber-bullying, to the list of infractions for which suspension must be considered;
· That a progressive discipline approach be used to choose the appropriate course of action in the case in inappropriate behaviour;
· To replace mandatory suspensions and expulsions for students (except in limited circumstances) with the requirement that principals and school boards consider and respond to all infractions that occurred in the most appropriate way;
· That mitigating factors be considered before students are suspended or expelled;
· To clarify decision-making authority around suspensions and expulsions for principals and school boards.
Warren Hoshizaki, the Director of Education for the District School Board of Niagara welcomes these changes. In an interview with the Welland Tribune, he said “Cyber-bullying has been an issue for schools across the province for a while” noting “every kid is different. Some may do it innocently while others may not be so innocent.”
DSBN schools have offered workshops, presentations and brought in guest speakers including representatives from Niagara Regional Police, to discuss issues of bullying, cyber-bullying and the safe use of the internet. Students know that bullying is not tolerated.
The Toronto District School Board last night approved a motion to ban the use of cell phones in its schools.
While the DSBN is currently reviewing school processes and practices covering the use of cell phones, blackberries, pagers, instant/text messaging etc., there are no plans to cancel the use of cell phones in our schools.
Each school has its own rules to monitor and control the use of cell phones and these rules are different for secondary schools and elementary schools. Such rules may vary between elementary or secondary schools.
Our staff tries to remain flexible about the use of cell phones in the event of any emergency situation arising for students and our students are generally cooperative with the school’s rules.
Our School Council and Student
Council provide input into setting these guidelines and, at a recent Trustee
Student Council meeting, student representatives from schools across the
District School Board of Niagara agreed that the rules were fair and work well.
SAFE SCHOOLS PROCEDURES AT SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL
In common with the other schools in Niagara, and as part of our safe school policy, searches may be carried out by school authorities, or by the police at the direction of school authorities, when there are reasonable grounds to suspect a breach of a school rule.
The principal has the authority, under the Ontario Education Act, to conduct searches which are reasonably related to the maintenance of order and discipline in the school. The principal may invite the police to accompany and assist in conducting a search that may reveal evidence of the breach of a school rule.
The search may be conducted by the principal, vice-principal or designated teaching staff.
While normally no charges are laid as a result of these searches, students may be disciplined in accordance with the Education Act.
Any drugs or drug paraphernalia that are found are turned over to the Niagara Regional Police for disposal. This procedure has been reviewed with our School Council. We appreciate parent/guardian support in our efforts to maintain a safe school environment.