Revised Safe Schools policy focuses on safe, nurturing schools

Provisions of Bill 212 legislation take effect Feb. 1, 2008

Peel - On Jan. 22, 2008, the Peel District School Board approved revisions to its Safe Schools policy #48. In June 2007, the provincial government passed Bill 212, the Education Amendment Act, (Progressive Discipline and School Safety). Its provisions take effect on Feb. 1, 2008. The board updated its Safe Schools policy to reflect this new legislation.

"As a board, we're committed to providing safe and nurturing environments that support learning and working for all," says Janet McDougald, chair of the Peel board. "To help students achieve to the best of their ability, we must work together to ensure that students feel safe, nurtured, welcomed, respected and included."

The policy is based on the provincial Education Act and the Ontario Code of Conduct. It sets clear standards of behaviour for students, staff, parents, volunteers and any other individuals involved in public education.  The following are highlights of the changes being made to the board's Safe Schools policy as a result of this new legislation:

• Bullying has been added to the list of behaviours for which students can be suspended.
• A progressive discipline approach will be taken when determining consequences for inappropriate behaviour.
• When determining consequences for inappropriate student behaviour, Bill 212 requires principals to consider mitigating and other factors. 
• Only principals may suspend students between one and 20 school days.
• Principals no longer have the authority to expel students. Principals may recommend that a student be expelled, but only the school board is able to issue an expulsion.
• Suspensions and expulsions may result from activities that do not take place at school or while a student is engaged in a school-related activity. Students may be suspended or expelled for engaging in activities that may have a negative impact on the school climate, such as inappropriate online behaviour, including cyber-bullying.
• School boards are required to provide alternative programs for suspended and expelled students. Students who are suspended for more than five days and students who are expelled will be offered the board's Fresh Start programs.

"As a board and at the school-level, we're well-positioned to implement this new legislation and the revised policy," notes Jim Grieve, director of education. "Peel schools are already among the safest places in communities, but this doesn't mean that we don't continue to look at how we make them even safer. As a school system, we have already embraced the spirit of this new legislation in creating and maintaining safe and nurturing school environments that promote positive school climates."

On Jan. 14, school council members from across the Peel board met at the HJA Brown Education Centre to provide input on the implementation of the board's new Safe Schools Policy. Council members also recommended a number of strategies to effectively communicate the revised policy to parents in Peel.

The Peel board serves more than 150,000 students in kindergarten to grade 12. Operating 232 schools in the municipalities of Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga, the Peel board is the largest employer in Peel. The board's annual budget is $1.2 billion. For more information, visit the board's website at www.peelschools.org.

For a copy of the board's Safe Schools policy, visit www.peelschools.org.