Ad Hoc Policy Committee: February 8, 2024

The Ad Hoc Policy Committee meeting for the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board took place on February 8, 2024, with me as chair. Staff brought forward five reports with two recommendations and a Trustee brought forward a notice of motion for discussion.

I voted in favour of the recommendation in Report 24-012 for Tier 2 Revisions to Policy P.071.CUR Indigenous Voluntary Self-Identification. Policy P.071.CUR establishes a process for Aboriginal Voluntary Self-Identification of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students. The revisions proposed in this report modernize the language in the policy and were developed in consultation with members of the Indigenous Education Council (IEC), Indigenous students and members of the Student Senate. The recommendation was carried.

I voted in favour of the recommendation in Report 24-016 for Revisions to Policy P.017.GOV Student Trustees and P.113.GOV Student Senate. At the Board Meeting on October 30, 2023, a motion to create an Indigenous Student Trustee position was passed. This report addresses the two policies affected by the creation of a new office of an Indigenous Student Trustee. The revisions proposed in this report update the language to reflect the changes, modernize the language in the policy and were developed in consultation with members of the Indigenous Education Council (IEC), Indigenous students and members of the Student Senate. The recommendation was carried.

I voted in favour of the Notice of Motion for Possible Amendments to Policy P.147.GOV Human Rights. This motion instructs staff to bring forward Policy P.147.GOV Human Rights for review by the Ad Hoc Policy Committee and to consider amends to the section entitled Participation and Inclusion. The motion was carried.

Staff brought forward Report 24-010 on Revisions to Policy P.038.SCO Graduation and Commencement Exercises and Awards for discussion. Policy P.038.SCO Graduation and Commencement Exercises and Awards establishes guidelines for commencement ceremonies and awards in secondary schools. This report proposes changes to modernize language and change graduation ceremonies to commencement ceremonies to be inclusive. The proposed draft will be posted to the District website from February 2 to March 29 and awareness will be raised on this consultation through parent, guardian, student, and school council communications. This report will be brought back to the Ad Hoc Policy Committee for final approval.

Staff brought forward Report 23-017 on Changes to the Student Transfer Appeal Process for discussion. Policy P.126.SCO provides a process for appeal to the Board by parents and guardians appealing on behalf of students who are minors and adult students appealing on their own behalf with respect to the administrative decision of a school transfer request. This report proposes removing section 3.30 which allows for a final appeal in a student transfer to be made to a panel of trustees. Additionally, there are several additional revisions to help simplify the transfer process and better align the policy with current practice. The proposed draft will be posted to the District website from February 8 to March 8 and awareness will be raised on this consultation through parent, guardian, student, and school council communications. This report will be brought back to the Ad Hoc Policy Committee for final approval.

Staff brought forward Report 24-003 on Proposal of New Policy P.149.GOV Pregnancy and Parental Leave (Board Trustees) for discussion. Policy P.149.GOV, Pregnancy and Parental Leave establishes a process for facilitating pregnancy and parental leaves for Trustees, in compliance with the Education Act. This report proposes amendments to modernize language throughout the policy. The proposed draft will be posted to the District website from February 2 to March 8 and awareness will be raised on this consultation through parent, guardian, student, and school council communications. This report will be brought back to the Ad Hoc Policy Committee for final approval.

Memo No. 24-007, Minor Policy Revisions was brought forward to present the policies, procedures, and forms that were adopted, revised, or rescinded under the Tier 1 development.

Want to have your say on the policies or see upcoming engagement opportunities in the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board? Check out our new engagement platform: https://engage.ocdsb.ca/.

Please note, that the opinions expressed here are entirely my own and do not reflect an official position of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board or the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board of Trustees. Please note answers from staff are paraphrased. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me using my contact form here.

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Key links

• Agenda for the Ad Hoc Policy Committee on February 8, 2024

  • Report 24-012, Tier 2 Revisions to Policy P.071.CUR Indigenous Voluntary Self-Identification

    • Appendix A, Policy P.071.GOV Indigenous Voluntary Self-Identification

    • Appendix B, Policy P.071.CUR Indigenous Voluntary Self-Identification

    • Report 24-016, Revisions to Policy P.017.GOV Student Trustees and P.113.GOV Student Senate

    • Appendix A, Policy P.017.GOV Student Trustees

    • Appendix B, Policy P.017.GOV Student Trustees

    • Appendix C, Policy P.113.GOV Student Senate

    • Appendix D, Policy P.113.GOV Student Senate

  • Notice of Motion, Possible Amendments to Policy P.147.GOV Human Rights

  • Report 24-010, Revisions to Policy P.038.SCO Graduation and Commencement Exercises and Awards

    • Appendix A, Policy P.038.SCO Secondary School Commencement Ceremonies

    • Appendix B, Policy P.038.SCO, Graduation and Commencement Exercises and Awards

  • Report 23-017, Changes to the Student Transfer Appeal Process

    • Appendix A, Policy P.126.SCO, Appeals Hearing Panel (Student Transfers)

    • Appendix B, Policy P.077.PLG, Designated Schools/Student Transfers

    • Appendix C, Policy P.077.PLG, Designated Schools/Student Transfers

  • Report 24-003, Proposal of New Policy P.149.GOV Pregnancy and Parental Leave (Board Trustees)

    • Policy P.149.GOV, Pregnancy and Parental Leave (Board Trustees)

  • Memo No. 24-007, Minor Policy Revisions (Tier 1)

    • Appendix A, Policy P.025.GOV, Board Member Conflict of Interest

    • Appendix B, Policy P.044.CUR, Supervised Alternative Learning

    • Appendix C, Policy P.057.FIN, Acquisition of Major Services

    • Appendix D, Policy P.072.CUR, Requests to Conduct Non-Board Initiated Research in Schools.

    • Appendix E, Policy P.099.HR, Employee Recognition

    • Appendix F, Policy P.109.CUR, Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition in Secondary Schools.