HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-05-31, Page 24For the first time, as part of theirreporting about suspensions andexpulsions, school boards across
Ontario are required to inform the
Education ministry this year about
how many affected students are
enrolled in special education
programs.
And with a revised Safe Schools
Act now almost certain to pass third
reading in the coming weeks,
requirements will become even more
specific next year.
Trustees of the Avon Maitland
District School Board heard about
the new requirements at a regular
meeting Tuesday, May 22, from
education superintendents Ted
Doherty and Marie Parsons.
Doherty said the existing Safe
Schools Act has required reporting
about suspensions and expulsions
for several years, but this is the first
year the province required that
affected special education students
be highlighted.
He noted the upcoming changes to
the act stem in part from complaints
that special education students have
been disproportionately affected by
the clauses dealing with suspension
and expulsion.
Parsons added the revised Act has
passed second reading in the
provincial legislature, under the
rather unusual circumstances of
securing support from all threeparties. It will now undergo a“clause-by-clause review, but they’renot really looking at major changes.”Updates regarding specialeducation in the revised Act dealmainly with what are referred to as
“mitigating factors.” This will likely
be a range of factors principals can
consider when deciding about
suspensions or expulsions, and that
range may be broadened for special
education students.
“That’s really crucial for students
with special education needs,”
Parsons explained. “A student with
developmental disabilities might not
be able to comprehend the
consequences and, therefore,
suspension is not a useful strategy.”
She said the same can be true for
students with autism, “depending on
where on the spectrum their
disability lies.” But for many
students with what are known as
“learning disabilities,” there may be
a more complete awareness of
consequences, so they may need to
be treated differently.
Other mitigating factors may be
whether or not the student’s
individual education plan would be
significantly disrupted, and – again,
mainly for students with autism – the
role played by known environmental
triggers.
Stratford trustee Doug Pratley said
he believed Avon Maitland
principals already considered such
factors when dealing with specialeducation students. Parsons agreed.“In this board, I believe that to betrue,” she responded. “Certainly,whenever any principal – elementaryor secondary – has had a concern
about a student with special needs in
this type of situation, they’ll often
consult (with senior administration).
And my advice, too, is you have to
suspend in some cases. But you also
have to look at what’s best for the
student.”
Neither Parsons nor Doherty could
say whether the board is above or
below the provincial average when it
comes to suspension or expulsion of
special education students. But they
hoped this year’s reporting
requirements would aid those
comparisons.
“We can’t say for sure yet because
we’re still looking at the numbers
from this year and we’ll be able to
report on that further for you after
we file our report with the province,”
Doherty said. “We do think our data
falls in line provincially, although
we have no way of knowing for
sure.”
PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2007.Trustees learn more about new requirements
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Blyth Public SchoolCOMMUNITY MEAL
“Thank you”
to all those who supported the
Blyth Public School Community Meal
on May 7, 2007.
Special thanks go to:
the Royal Canadian Legion for donating the beef,
and the many parents and friends of the school whose
donations and help made this year’s event
a tremendous success.
GRADE 8 SILENT AUCTION
The Grade 8 class wishes to thank all of the buyers at
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Business and Service Club donations. The Silent
Auction was a great success and the proceeds will
certainly help toward the cost of our year-end school
trip to Camp Celtic & graduation. We are very fortunate
to live in such a giving community.
By Stew SlaterSpecial to The Citizen
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