Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2007-05-30, Page 7The Huron Expositor • May 30, 2007 Page 7 News Special education students affected by Safe Schools Act must now be reported Stew Slater For the first time, as part of their reporting about suspensions and expulsions, school boards across Ontario are required to inform the Education Ministry this year about how many affected students are enrolled in Special Education pro- grams. 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 edu- cation 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 com- plaints that Special Education stu- dents 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 three par- ties. It will now undergo a "clause - by -clause review, but they're not really looking at major changes." Updates regarding Special Education in the revised Act deal mainly with what are referred to as "mitigating factors." This will likely be a range of fac- Tools stolen from shed in Vanastra Tools were stolen from a shed in the backyard of a residence on Victoria Blvd in Vanastra sometime between May 13 and 17, reports the Huron OPP. Because there was no damage to the shed, the homeowner told police the shed may have been accidentally left unlocked. Stolen was a Mastercraft circular saw with laser guide, a Black and Decker electric drill and a laser level. tors 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 con- sequences and, therefore, suspen- sion is not a useful strategy" She said the same can be true for students with autism, "depending on where on the spectrum their dis- ability 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 indi- vidual education plan would be sig- nificantly disrupted, and — again, mainly for students with autism — the role played by known environ- mental triggers. Stratford trustee Doug Pratley said he believed Avon Maitland principals already considered such factors when dealing with Special Education students. Parsons agreed. "In this board, I.believe that to be true," she responded. "Certainly, whenever any principal — elemen- tary or secondary — has had a con- cern 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 aver- age when it comes to suspension or expulsion of Special Education stu- dents. But they hoped this year's report- ing 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 provin- cially, although we have no way of knowing for sure." Here'so u r opportunity Y to save lives. Please give at the Blood Donor clinic in Seaforth. Monday, June 4, 2007 2:30 pm. - 8:30p . m. Seaforth Community Centre 122 Duke Street Please call and make an appointment today! This message brought to you by these community minded businesses. ' 1 I.'RON PAST The Municipality of HURON EAST 519-527-0160 CASEY VAN BAKEL Electrical & Plumbing Licenced Gas Fitter 519522-1558 L. M ath PLUMBING & ` TING INC. Seaforth 519-522-0493 11 Main St. Seaforth 519-527-02 Summer is traditionally a time when blood collections decline, Please donate with your family and friends Call 1 888 2 DONATE for more information or to book an appointment. www. blood .ca 40 Whitney-Ribey Funeral Home 519-527-1390 87 Goderich St. W. Seaforth McLaughlin Chevrolet Ltd. 13 Main St. Seaforth 519.527.1140 while demand remains constant. this summer. Canadian Blood Services it's in you to give