AGENDA

THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE

GOVERNANCE AND POLICY COMMITTEE

 

PUBLIC SESSION

Ida Li Preti, Chair                             Angela Kennedy, Vice Chair

Meeting #:
Date:	Tuesday, May 07, 2019
Time:	7:00 P.m. - 8:00 P.m.
Location:	CEC Large Committee Meeting Room ( 2nd Floor) 80 Sheppard Ave East, Toronto, ON, M2N 6E8

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1.

Call to Order

2.

Opening Prayer

3.

Roll Call & Apologies

4.

Approval of the Agenda

5.

Declarations of Interest

6.

Approval & Signing of the Minutes of the Meeting held April 9, 2019 for Public Session.

7.

Delegations

8.

Presentation

8.a

Policy Tracker, Peter Aguiar, Superintendent of Student Achievement and Well-Being - Area 4 and Governance and Policy (Verbal)

9.

Notices of Motion

10.

Consent and Review

11.

Unfinished Business

12.

Matters referred or deferred

12.a

From the March 26, 2019 Catholic Education and Living Our Catholic Values Sub-Committee Meeting and Approved at the April 4, 2019 Student Achievement and Well Being, Catholic Education and Human Resources Committee Meeting

That Student Achievement and Well Being, Catholic Education and Human Resources Committee refer to Governance and Policy that staff develop a policy on Catholic Curriculum in all subjects taught in all Toronto Catholic Schools.

12.b

From the March 18, 2019 Special Board Meeting

Whereas the TCDSB does not have a policy regarding refusing to admit special education students and students with complex needs: and

Whereas the TCDSB should not refuse to admit special need students with disabilities on the basis that staff believe they cannot accommodate the student's needs, e.g. due to staff absences; and

Whereas the TCDSB may ask or direct that a student not attend school; or that a student only attend school for part of the regular school day and that the student be removed from school in writing; and

Whereas the TCDSB may excuse students from school who are suspended, expelled or for public health purposes according to legislation; and

Whereas a refusal to admit students should only be imposed when necessary to protect health and safety; and

Whereas indefinite exclusions of students are not in the best interest of students; and

Whereas the TCDSB should set out fair procedures that must be followed when refusing to admit a student.

Therefore be it resolved that the TCDSB establish a comprehensive policy regarding the refusal to admit special education students and those with special needs and disabilities to school; and

Be it further resolved that a refusal to admit policy should depend on the TCDSB ensuring that students excluded from attending school are provided an equivalent educational program; and

Be it further resolved that students should not be excused unless it can be demonstrated that the student presents an imminent risk to health or safety; and

Be it further resolved that the policy include:

Circumstances when a refusal to admit is permitted, and when it is not permitted;Procedures that must be followed when refusing to admit a student;

Timelines dictating the maximum number of consecutive days a student can be excused from school;

An appeal process; and

Data documentation and process for reporting to SEAC and Board.

Be it further resolved that the policy should include where the TCDSB refuses to accommodate students with special education disabilities in regular classrooms without needed supports or services, the principal be required to provide written notice and rationale of this to the family and that the Superintendent be copied; and

Be it further resolved that a refusal to admit policy be referred to the Governance and Policy Committee; and

Be it further resolved that staff prepare a comprehensive report on the implementation of a refusal to report policy.

12.c

From the April 4, 2019 Student Achievement and Well Being, Catholic Education and Human Resources Committee Meeting

1)That staff create a policy, and that it be presented to the Governance and Policy Committee for consideration (Forms of Acceleration for Gifted and Talented Students);

2) That the policy and the regulations governing Admissions and French Programming be sent to the Governance and Policy Committee for revisions that more accurately reflect the delivery and availability of regional programs with equity in mind (St. Brigid Catholic School Admissions Inquiry: Junior Kindergarten French Immersion); and

3) That a policy be implemented that has direct instruction of cursive writing in Grade 3 (2019 Cursive Writing Update)

12.d

Review of Purchasing Policy (F.P.01)

Deferred until the Board makes a decision at the April 11, 2019 Corporate Services, Strategic Planning and Property Committee Meeting, TRIPLE PRIVATE Session.

From the April 24, 2019 Regular Board Meeting

12.e

Revised Conflict of Interest Act and Integrity Commissioner Update

That the Sections regarding governance be referred to the Governance and Policy Committee.

12.f

Update to Suspension and Expulsion Policy (S.S.01)

That the policy be referred to the Governance and Policy (GAP) Committee with the following changes, and also to SEAC for consultation:

Page 51, Cross Reference: Include The Ontario Human Rights Code and The Ontario Human Rights Policy on Accessible Education for Students with Disabilities;

Page 61: Add not related to a disability after Item (2) Refractory conduct;

Page 62: Add or the Pupil would benefit from one after ...an individual education plan has been developed,; and

Page 132, Regulation 13: include explanation of mitigating and other factors.

13.

Staff Reports

13.a

Update to Blessing and Official Opening of Schools Policy S.08

13.b

Update to Bullying Prevention and Intervention Policy S.S.11

13.c

Update to Combined (Split) Grade Classes for Elementary Schools Policy S.24

13.d

Recommendation to Adopt a Partisan Activities and Campaigning Policy A.40

13.e

Update to Admission and Placement of Elementary Pupils Policy S.A.01

13.f

Update to Elementary School Attendance Boundary Review Policy S.A.03

14.

Listing of Communications

14.a

Letter from Toronto Catholic Parent Involvement Committee regarding Catholic Parent Involvement Committee Policy P.04

15.

Inquiries and Miscellaneous

16.

Updating of Pending Lists

16.a

Monthly Pending List

16.b

2019 Policy Priority Schedule

17.

Adjournment