Board Policies & Administrative Procedures

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Board Policy 13: APPEALS AND HEARINGS REGARDING STUDENT MATTERS

Under the relevant section(s) of the Education Act, the only matters on which the Minister of Education will consider appeals are:

  • Provision of specialized supports and services to a student or to a child enrolled in an early childhood services program;
  • Student expulsion;
  • Access to, or the accuracy or completeness of student records;
  • Board responsibility for a specific student.

The Board will hear appeals on administrative decisions on all matters other than expulsion of students, which are submitted in accordance with relevant section(2) of the Education Act, that significantly affect the education of a student.

  1. All Matters Other Than Expulsion of a Student
    1. Prior to a decision being appealed to the Board, it must be appealed to the Superintendent in accordance with Administrative Procedure 152.
    2. Parents of students, and students sixteen (16) years of age or over, have the right to appeal to the Board a decision of the Superintendent that significantly affects the education of a student. The Superintendent must advise parents and students of this right of appeal to the Board.
    3. The appeal to the Board must be made within five (5) days from the date that the individual was informed of the Superintendent’s decision.
      1. The appeal must be filed in writing and must contain the name of the party filing the appeal, the date, the matter at hand, and the reason for the appeal.
      2. If the appeal is sent electronically, the burden of proof of delivery is on the appellant
    4. Parents, or students as above, when appealing a decision to the Board, have the right to be assisted by a resource person(s) of their choosing. The responsibility for engaging and paying for such assistance rests with the parents or students.
    5. Appeals will be heard by the Board at a regular Board meeting, whenever possible. The hearing of the appeal must be scheduled so as to ensure that the person making the appeal and the Superintendent, or designate, whose decision is being appealed, has sufficient notice and time to prepare for the presentation.
    6. The Board Chair will consider any requests for adjournments of hearings of appeals regarding student matters, and must consider the reason for the request and whether the person making the request has sufficient notice and time to prepare for the presentation.
    7. The appeal will be heard at an in-camera meeting of the Board, with specified individuals in attendance.
    8. The Board reserves the right to make its decision at a subsequent Board meeting. The parties to the appeal will be advised when the decision will be made. The Board decision will be made in open session.
    9. The appeal hearing will be conducted in accordance with the following guidelines:
      1. The Board Chair will outline the purpose of the hearing, which is to provide:
        1. An opportunity for the parties to make representation in support of their respective positions to the Board. This information may include expert medical, psychological and educational data and may be presented by witnesses. The information presented may include both written and verbal communications
        2. The Board with the means to receive information and to review the facts of the dispute
        3. A process through which the Board can reach a fair and impartial decision.
    10. Notes of the proceedings will be recorded for the purpose of the Board’s records. Individual trustee notes will not be part of the Board’s records and are not subject to production.
    11. The Superintendent and/or designate(s) will explain the decision under appeal and give reasons for the decision.
    12. The appellant will present the appeal and the reasons for the appeal and will have an opportunity to respond to information provided by the Superintendent and/or designate(s).
    13. The Superintendent and/or designate(s) will have an opportunity to respond to information presented by the appellant.
    14. Board members will have the opportunity to ask questions or clarification from both parties.
    15. No cross-examination of the parties shall be allowed, though questions may be directed to the other party through the Board Chair with the permission of the Board Chair
    16. The Board will meet without the respective parties to the appeal in attendance to arrive at a decision regarding the appeal. The recording secretary will remain in attendance but shall not take part in any discussion and the discussion will not be recorded. The Board may have legal counsel in attendance.
    17. If the Board requires additional information or clarification in order to make its decision, both parties to the appeal will be requested to return to the hearing for the required additional information.
    18. The Board will make every effort to make a decision based on the process described above on the same day as the hearing.
    19. The Board decision and the reasons for that decision will be communicated to the appellant by telephone as soon as possible following the decision. The Board decision will be communicated in writing within five (5) days following the hearing. Included in the communication to the appellant shall be information that the appellant has the right to seek a review by the Minister if the appellant is dissatisfied with the decision of the Board, if the matter under appeal is a matter described in section 43 of the Education Act.

  2. Expulsion of a Student

    It is expected that all students will comply with their responsibilities as set out in the Education Act, Board Policy, administrative procedures and school rules. The Board will hear representations with respect to a recommendation for a student expulsion in accordance with relevant sections of the Education Act.

    1. A student shall be reinstated within five (5) school days of the date of suspension unless the Principal makes a recommendation for expulsion. When the Principal makes a recommendation for expulsion, the Principal shall immediately report in writing all the circumstances to the parent or the student and to the Board through the Office of the Superintendent. The student then remains suspended until the Board has made a decision.
    2. The Board Chair will convene the expulsion hearing upon the call of the Superintendent, but in no event shall the meeting occur later than ten (10) school days from the first day of suspension.
    3. The expulsion hearing will be held in-camera
    4. Parents of students, or students sixteen (16) years of age or over, have the right to be assisted by a resource person(s) of their choosing. The responsibility for engaging and paying for such assistance rests with the parents or students.
    5. The Board may have legal counsel in attendance.
    6. Notes of the proceedings will be recorded for the purpose of the Board’s records.
    7. The expulsion hearing will be conducted in accordance with the following guidelines:
      1. The Board Chair will outline the purpose of the hearing, which is to:
        1. Provide an opportunity to hear representations relative to the recommendation from the Principal, including;
          1. Any conditions respecting the circumstances in which the student may be enrolled in the same or a different education program;
          2. The length of any rule or condition and why either is to apply to the student beyond the school year in which the student was expelled.
        2. Provide an opportunity for the student and/or the student’s parents to make representations in response to the Principal’s recommendations;
        3. Reinstate or expel the student and address the length of any rule or condition which applies to the student.
      2. The Board Chair will outline the procedure to be followed, which will be as follows:
        1. The Principal will present the report documenting the details of the case and the recommendation to expel the student. This report is to be prepared within the following guidelines:
          1. The report to the Board must state in writing all the circumstances respecting the suspension and recommendation for expulsion;
          2. The report must state clearly the reasons for the Principal’s recommendation to expel;
          3. The report may make recommendations about another education program or other conditions that the Board may consider for re-enrolment.
        2. The student and the student’s parents will be given an opportunity to respond to the information presented and to add any additional relevant information;
        3. The Board will have the opportunity to ask questions of clarification from both the Principal and the student and the student’s parents;
        4. The Board may request from the Superintendent a list of alternatives to guide their deliberations;
        5. The Board will meet, without either the administration or the student and the student’s parents present, to discuss the case and the recommendation.
          1. The recording secretary will remain in attendance but shall not take part in any discussion and the discussion will not be recorded.
          2. Legal counsel, if present, may also remain in attendance.
        6. Should the Board require additional information, both parties will be requested to return in order to provide the requested information;
        7. The Board will then make a decision to either reinstate or expel the student and reconvene the meeting to announce their decision. Should the Board require a significantly longer period of time for their deliberations, they may make alternative arrangements regarding the dissemination of their decision. (i.e. The Superintendent’s office will attempt to inform the parent(s) and the student of the decision by telephone or personal communication as soon as possible after a decision has been reached). In this event, during their deliberations, no new information affecting the outcome of the proceedings shall be brought before the Board; and
        8. The Board decision shall be communicated in writing to the student and the student’s parents within five (5) days of the hearing, with copies being provided to the Principal and the Superintendent.
      3. If the Board decision is to expel the student, the following information must be included in the letter to the student and the student’s parents:
        1. The length of the expulsion which must be greater than ten (10) school days;
        2. Any rules or conditions that apply to the student
        3. The educational program to be provided to the student and the name of the individual to be contacted in order to make the necessary arrangements;
        4. The right of the student and the student’s parents to request a review of the decision by the Minister of Education, including contact information for the Minister’s office;
        5. In most cases, an expulsion shall end June 30 of the school year in which it occurred;
        6. The Board may impose reasonable and relevant conditions on re-enrolment for a student who is expelled.
          1. These conditions must be included in the letter to the student and the student’s parents and must be fulfilled by the student before re-enrolment at the school from where the student is expelled (even if beyond the June 30 date).
          2. The Superintendent shall be responsible for ensuring that the conditions are met; and
        7. Reasonable effort shall be made to ensure that students who are subject to an expulsion procedure be given an opportunity to write their final exams.
      4. Expulsion is at the discretion of the Board. The Board, in making its decision, shall take into account the circumstances under which the student committed the offence. The following offences, which is not an exhaustive list, may be considered by the Board as justification for expulsion:
        1. Open opposition to the authority of the staff;
        2. Conduct, whether or not the conduct occurs within the school building or during the school days, deemed to be injurious to the physical or mental well-being of others in the school;
        3. Displaying an attitude of wilful, blatant and repeated refusal to comply with the code of conduct established in the school;
        4. Habitual neglect to do work that is assigned to the student and which is within his/her competence to complete;
        5. Profane or indecent language in the presence of other students or before staff;
        6. Threats of physical violence or acts of violence against staff or a serious unprovoked attack on other students;
        7. Any act of indecency in a school building or on the school grounds;
        8. Failure to observe and to obey any reasonable rule or procedure established by the teacher or by the Principal for maintaining a climate of behavior conducive to learning;
        9. Willful or malicious damage to property or equipment on school premises;
        10. Prohibited use of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco; or
        11. Any conduct that endangers the ability of the school to provide a safe, caring and secure environment that fosters and maintains respectful and responsible behaviors.



Legal Reference:

Sections 3, 4, 11, 31, 32, 33, 36, 37, 41, 42, 43, 44, 52, 53, 222 Education Act

 

Approved: January 10, 1995

Amended: January 10, 2007; August 21, 2018; May 25, 2020

Reviewed: February 29, 2024

Last Updated: February 29, 2024