JGD/JGE: Student Suspension/Exclusion

Suspension

In accordance with the School Act, Sec. 85(2)(ii) and (d), the Board of School Trustees (the “Board”) authorizes the principal of any school in the district to suspend a student from attendance at school for five days or fewer and to remove a suspension that he/she has imposed, provided that the principal observes the conditions outlined in this policy.

Suspensions may be for the following reasons:

• because a student is wilfully disobedient to a teacher or to any other employee of the Board carrying out responsibilities approved by the Board,
• because the behaviour of the student has a harmful effect on the character or persons of other students.

Students under the age of 16, who are suspended from school, must be given an educational program [School Act, Sec. 85(2)(c)(ii)].

The authority to suspend students is given to administrative officers, in accordance with the School Act, Sec. 26. The procedures set by the officials of the Board shall be followed in all cases of suspension (see JGD/JGE-R).

Transfer of Students

The transfer of students, with the co-operation of the parents or guardians, for educational reasons, serious breaches of discipline, or the use of alcohol or drugs shall not be considered as suspensions.

If parents refuse to accept such transfers, principals may suspend the student in consultation with the Associate Superintendent - Area and refer the matter to the Board’s Student Discipline Review Committee, following the procedures prescribed for suspensions of more than five days (see JGD/JGE-R and JECC-R, Transfers).

If a student has been transferred twice for disciplinary reasons and continues to be a discipline problem, the case will be referred to the Student Discipline Review Committee for resolution following a suspension of more than five days.  In some cases, a principal may send a student home to return with his/her parent or guardian. These short absences are looked upon as counselling procedures and are not to be considered suspensions.

Removal of Suspension

The principal who imposed a suspension also has the authority to remove it. In addition, the Student Discipline Review Committee may, after consulting with the Superintendent of Schools and convening a meeting where all parties may discuss the suspension, initiate or terminate or adjust a period of suspension. In disposition of a suspension of more than five (5) days, the Student Discipline Review Committee may recommend reinstatement, transfer to another school, transfer to an alternate program, withdrawal of the student at the parents' request if the student is over the age of compulsory attendance, or exclusion from the school system if it is felt the offence is of exceptional severity and/or is dangerous to the physical and emotional well-being of other students.

The Board must act in all cases of appeal that cannot be resolved by the Student Discipline Review Committee.

The Board may also order that any reference to a suspension be removed from a student's record.

Exclusion

Only the Board has the legal authority to exclude a student or to revoke an exclusion.

The Board may vote to exclude a student only after consulting with the Superintendent and convening a meeting before the Board, of which notice of time and place has been served on the parent or guardian of the student, where the parent or guardian and the student are provided the opportunity to discuss the proposed exclusion with the Board.

Students under the age of 16, who are excluded from school, must be provided with an educational program.

The Board may order that any reference to an exclusion be removed from a student's record.

Exclusion of Students over 16

The School Act gives boards of trustees the authority to prohibit a student of 16 years of age or older from further attendance in the school district if the student fails to apply  him/herself to his/her studies or fails to comply with the rules and regulations of the school; if, after due warning, the student does not, in the opinion of the principal and the Superintendent, make a reasonable effort to reform, the Board may, upon the recommendation of the principal and the Student Discipline Review Committee, vote to prohibit his/her attendance at school.

The Board has the authority, after consultation with the Superintendent, to re-admit a student of 16 years of age or older whose attendance at school has been prohibited as described above.

DMT Responsibility: AS-F