Whereas families with children who have special need children with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities are being asked to pick up children early, start their school day later or keep children at home for indefinite periods of time; and
Whereas families with special need children may not have the flexibility or the financial means to leave their employment and pick up children from school - sometimes on a daily basis; and
Whereas asking parents to alter regular school hours for special need students is a further obstacle to many families and causes undue hardship for the child and the family; and
Whereas it is recognized that some students may present challenges and one of the common causes of excusing students from school may be due in part to behavioural issues; and
Whereas TCDSB school personnel may not have the resources available to them to resolve issues regarding classroom management; and
Whereas it is not in the best interest of the school community if a student poses a safety concern; and
Whereas the practice of excusing special need students may deny some students inclusive educational opportunities; and
Whereas TCDSB does not formally track soft exclusions at the present time; and
Whereas the provision in the Education Act to exclude children from school is outdated and may violate the rights of children to an inclusive education; and
Whereas it is recognized that some students may present challenges, alternatives to exclusion should be available to students and families first; and
Therefore, be it resolved that the TCDSB create an emergency plan for accommodating special education students and/ or students with a physical disability that may be excused from regular hours of school; and
Further be it resolved than a central on call service be available to principals on an emergency basis when the parent(s) are not available to pick up their child; and
Further be it resolved that staff prepare a report on the implementation of an Emergency Plan for Special Education Disability Accommodation Needs and projected costs; and
Further be it resolved that staff bring this motion to the next SEAC meeting for discussion, review and further recommendation (s); and
Further be it resolved that staff review deploying existing staff on an on call basis and investigate other possible contract/part time resources to accommodate an Emergency Plan for Special Education Disability Accommodation Needs; and
Further be it resolved that funding for Emergency Special Education Disability Accommodation Needs be added to the budget and considered during budget deliberations; and
Further be it resolved that the Ministry of Education be requested to fund the Emergency Special Education Disability Accommodation Needs;
Be it further resolved that this motion take effect immediately.