REGULATION 5131.7
STUDENT SUSPENSIONS
Students are expected to comply with school rules authorized by the principal, and with the code of conduct and any other relevant rules and policies of the Greater Victoria Board of School Trustees, School Act [Sections 6(1), 85 (2)(c)(i).]
Generally speaking, student suspensions occur only after all preventive activities have taken place in the school. It is recognized, however, that there are times when the behaviour of a student is such that a suspension will occur even though there has been no previous offense or attendant preventative counselling measures undertaken.
It is expected that the following information and procedures will exist in every school.
1. Schools will file a copy of their school’s expectations or rules with the appropriate Assistant Superintendent.
2. Principals, in accordance with Policy and Regulation 5131.1 (Discipline), will acquaint students with school rules in particular, inform them of misconduct that could result in suspension.
3. Principals should clarify the Pre-Suspension and Suspension Procedures with students.
4. Teachers and/or Counsellors should make early contact with the parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s) outlining the student’s behaviour where it is placing the student in an “at risk” position.
5. Where feasible, early counselling with the student and the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) should be undertaken and specific plans for behaviour adjustment should be written and where appropriate, educational
assessment should be made and changes to the learning environment initiated.
6. All unacceptable student behaviour should be documented, together with all pertinent dates of incidents, actions taken and any written communication which has taken place with the parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s).
7. The appropriate Assistant Superintendent is to be consulted prior to suspension of all elementary students and all over-five-day suspensions.
8. In a situation where a suspension may be necessary to protect the child and/or other children, there may have been no previous history or previous contact with the parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s). In such cases the principal shall then proceed by conferring with the appropriate Assistant Superintendent or their designate and if it is felt that there are grounds for suspension under the School Act Section 85 (2)(c)(ii) and (d) and its Regulation 5 (6)(a) and (7)(g), then the principal shall use their authority to suspend.
A. Suspensions – 5 or Fewer School Days
1. The principal shall inform the student and the parents or legal guardians of the reasons for suspension, the duration of such a suspension and the process for appeal. This shall be carried out either in person or by telephone.
2. The principal shall document the incident and then send a letter of suspension to the parent(s) or legal guardian(s), with a copy to his/her Assistant Superintendent.
3. The letter of suspension shall include the reason(s) for the suspension. The letter will also contain any previous behaviours that have had a bearing on the suspension, preventative or remedial action taken by the school and the condition(s) upon which the return of the student to school is predicated.
4. The principal shall convene a meeting of the parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s), the student and, if appropriate, the school Counsellor and any teacher or Board employee who has been involved.
5. The principal shall provide homework for all students during their suspension period in accordance with the School Act 85 (2)(c)(ii) and
(2)(d). The student shall be expected to continue their studies at home, and shall be maintained on the school register.
6. The school administration and/or the school counsellor shall monitor the student’s progress and/or behaviour upon the student’s return to school.
7. If appropriate, the principal shall arrange District resources to assist in a remedial program for a student who has been suspended.
8. The principal may find it necessary to suspend a student for a period of fewer than five days on more than one occasion. An accurate record of the number of days suspended in the district shall be kept and when an excess of 15 days in one school year is reached, the case shall be referred to the Principals’ Review Committee.
B. Suspension Over 5 Days (See Guidelines for Student Suspension)
1. Before calling the Assistant Superintendent, the principal or vice principal shall meet with the student and parents/legal guardians to inform them of the reason(s) for the suspension, and to inform them of the Principals’ Review Committee structure and process as outlined in C 1, 2, 3 and 4 below. This same information shall also be sent in a double registered letter to the parent(s) or guardian(s). A copy of the suspension letter shall be sent to the Assistant Superintendent, or designate, who will convene a meeting of the Principals’ Review Committee.
INFORMATION CHECKLIST – PRINCIPALS’ REVIEW COMMITTEE REFERRAL
1. The principal shall prepare full documentation for the presentation to the Principals’ Review Committee.
* The following information/documentation is included in this referral: (Please check appropriate boxes.)
Pack ups must contain this information and must be submitted to parent and Assistant Superintendent prior to suspension hearing.
❑ Cover Page
❑ Suspension letter with detailed account of incident(s), e.g. summary of all incidents, with dates that led to suspension;
❑ Counsellor report(s);
❑ Strategies, interventions used – counselling/education steps taken prior to suspension;
❑ Updated record of grades and teachers’ reports, include a statement of particular strengths and/or positive attributes of student;
❑ Copy of P.R. card;
❑ Attendance Report;
❑ *Copy of I.E.P. and designation (for special education), if applicable; goals/steps followed through I.E.P. process; state needs based on I.E.P.
❑ Copy of assessments, and/or requests for assessment;
❑ *Names of resource individuals/agencies involved with student, e.g.social worker, probation officer, outreach worker, counsellor, physician(s),or community agencies;
* If outside agencies involved, e.g. Ministry for Children & Families, Attorney General, Ministry of Health and notification of suspension and hearing date;
❑ Any other pertinent information, e.g. prior incidents, suspensions, educational and/or behavioural concerns;
❑ Copy of Principals’ Review Committee pack up/documentation to parent/guardian.
* If items not checked, please give detailed explanation for omission.
Recommendations:
❑ Formal Principals’ Review Committee Suspension Hearing; ❑ Diversion.
2. The Principals’ Review Committee shall include an Assistant
Superintendent, and/or designate, e.g. the District Secondary Counsellor & Facilitator, two principals, who are assigned to this Committee for a three month period and, when necessary, Coordinator of Special Education.
This Committee shall hear a presentation from the suspending principal and will meet with the student and their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) to review the situation.
The operation of the Committee will be as follows:
(a) All materials provided to the Committee will also be given to the parent and student prior to the suspension hearing;
(b) The parent(s) or legal guardian(s) will be informed that they and their child have the right to be present when the principal is making the presentation to the Committee;
(c) After hearing the principal and the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) and student, the Committee shall make a decision. The following options are available to the Committee:
(i) that the suspension be lifted and the student be
reinstated in the school from which he/she was
suspended;
(ii) that the suspension be lifted and the student be placed in a different school;
(iii) that the suspension be lifted and the student be placed
in an alternate program in the district;
(iv) that the suspension be upheld for a specified period of
time;
(v) that the student be expelled from schools in the Greater Victoria School District.
3. In all cases the parent(s)/legal guardian(s) and the student shall be informed of the Committee’s decision by an Assistant Superintendent, or designate, who shall inform them of their right to appeal in accordance with Bylaw 9330.1. Written confirmation of the above shall be made to the parent(s)/legal guardian(s).
4. If the parent(s)/legal guardians disagree with the decision of the Principals’ Review Committee, they can exercise their right to appeal by informing the appropriate Assistant Superintendent, or designate, who shall commence a review as specified in step 4 of the processes outlined in Bylaw 9330.l: Appeal-Process decisions Regarding Students.
Procedure for Principals’ Review Committee Referrals and for Diversion;
Principals’ Review Committee (Suspensions over Five (5) Days)
Referral to Principals’ Review Committee occurs when the incident is deemed to be extremely serious and/or severe such as:
• serious and/or premeditated assaults;
• repeated offenses of aggressive, assaultive behaviour and/or substance abuse;
• weapons offenses;
• drug trafficking;
• ongoing documented incidents of extreme and inappropriate behaviour(s), as well as interventions the school has attempted.
* The recommendation from referring school administrator may be:
• return to home school;
• place in another school;
• referral to an alternative school or special education program;
• extend suspension for balance of year or uphold the suspension;
• expulsion.
* The Principals’ Review Committee members will determine and submit final recommendations.
Diversion/Intervention
A diversion course may be determined by consultation between referring administrator and district staff, e.g. District Secondary Counsellor, a Coordinator of School Services, Administrator of Alternative Programs or other designate of Assistant Superintendent of Schools. However, the referring school administrator may determine and request a Principals’ Review Committee hearing on his or her own.
Referral for Diversion/Intervention occurs when:
• the incident the student was involved in results in an over five day suspension;
• all school-based interventions have been reviewed and/or attempted;
• a return to referring school or a new secondary school placement is possible;
• placement in another program such as a rehab./alternative program or another special education program is an option;
• option/outcome is agreeable to the student, their parents/guardian(s),
the district Counsellor or special education coordinator and school administrator.
How We Divert or Intervene:
A diversion may occur when the referring school and/or parent(s)/guardian(s) AGREE that the suspension may be dealt with through the intervention of district personnel, e.g. District Counsellor, School Services Coordinators, Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools, and/or designates.
• consideration for diversion will be discussed between the referring School’s Administrator and the Assistant Superintendent of Schools or their designate;
• options for resolution will be discussed with referring School Administrator(s) and/or parent(s)/guardian(s).
Possible Outcomes of Diversion/Intervention:
• return to home school with counselling and/or other recommendations/conditions , e.g. designation, I.E.P. development and review, developing and implementing support(s);
• transfer to another secondary school (full or part-time) with specified conditions;
• referral to an alternative program;
• placement in special education program in consultation with a Coordinator of Special Education/School Services;
• referral to a community program through cooperation with provincial ministries and/or local agencies for a specified period of time.
A letter summarizing the recommendations/decisions is forwarded to the assistant superintendent, school administrator, parent(s)/guardian(s), students and/or agencies involved with youth.
NOTE: In either case, whether referral is made for Diversion or Principals’ Review Committee, a pack up of information as per the checklist contained herein must be prepared and submitted.
Front Page Submission/Cover Letter:
• use school stationery/letterhead;
• heading as follows:
The enclosed is (name of school) referral/pack up to Principals’ Review Committee.
TO: The Assistant Superintendent of Schools
FROM: Name of School
Name of School Administrator
Regarding the suspension of:
Student Name
D.O.B.
Address
Parent/Guardian Name
Phone #
FORMAT COVER LETTER
School Letterhead
CONFIDENTIAL
To: Dr./Ms./ Mr.
Assistant Superintendent of Schools
Greater Victoria School District #61
From: Dr./Mr./Ms./ Principal/Vice-Principal
Name of Secondary School
Re: Referral to Principals’ Review Committee Suspension over Five (5) Days
Student Name:
D.O.B. :
Address:
Parent/Guardian:
Phone:
Date:
Recommendation, please check:
❑ Request Formal Principals’ Review Committee Suspension Hearing
❑ Diversion
PRINCIPALS’ REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT
Outline for Suspension Report
(Revised April, 1997)
Confidential
Report to the Principals’ Review Committee on a student suspended over five days under Section 85 of the School Act.
Student:
Address:
Phone:
Birth Date:
School:
Provide a brief history of the student’s scholastic achievement and attendance over the last two or three years.
Where possible, provide an estimate of the student’s scholastic aptitude. Also, outline any positive aspects of the student’s achievements during the current year.
Summarize, if applicable, the series of incidents, together with all dates and subsequent parental contracts that may have occurred prior to this suspension.
Outline the steps that have been taken to determine the existence of any learning problem that have contributed to the student’s behaviour. Detail any remedial action that has been taken to assist the student prior to suspension.
Summarize the involvement of school staff and/or community worker with the student and/or the family.
Discuss the merits of a transfer or reinstatement. Suggest what is seen to be the course of action which would best serve the needs of the student.
Date:
Principal:
School:
MODEL SUSPENSION LETTER TO BE USED FOR SUSPENSION OVER FIVE DAYS
(Revised April, 1997)
Mr. & Mrs. Parent/Guardian Address
Victoria, B. C.
Postal Code
Dear Mr. & Mrs. Parent/Guardian:
RE: Student Name
D.O.B.:
Paragraph 1
This is to inform you that under authority of the School Act, Section 85, and the Greater Victoria School District Policy 5131.7, I am suspending your son/daughter (name) for a period exceeding five school days, and reporting the circumstances of the suspension to the Superintendent of Schools.
Section 85 of the School Act states that:
“A Board may, subject to this Act and the regulations, do all or any of the following:
(c) make rules
(i) establishing a code of conduct for students attending educational programs operated by or on behalf of the Board.
(ii) respecting suspension of students and the provision of educational programs for suspended students.
(d) suspend students in accordance with the rules under paragraph (c)(ii), so long as the Board continues to make available to those students an educational program.
School District Policy 5131.7 (Student Suspension) states that:
“The Greater Victoria Board of School Trustees authorizes principals to suspend pupils in accordance with the provision of the School Act, Section 85 (2) (c)(ii) and (d) its attendant Regulation 5(6)(a) and (7)(g) and Policy 5131.7 (Student Suspensions) and Regulations 5131.3 (Weapons) and 5131.2 (Threats) of the Greater Victoria School District.”
Paragraph 2
Relate the incident that caused the suspension, and the reason(s) and the date of the incident.
Paragraph 3
Give a historical picture, if applicable, of the student’s behaviour, achievements, attendance, attitude, phone calls to the home, parent conferences, counselling contracts, and suspension of five days or fewer, together with dates.
Paragraph 4
“I regret that this type of action has become necessary, but it is my opinion that the behaviour of (name) has left me no other alternative.”
Paragraph 5
“An Assistant Superintendent of Schools or designate will contact you as soon as possible to outline further meeting dates and times to review this suspension. Please address further correspondence inquiries to:
Assistant Superintendent of Schools
School Board Office
556 Boleskine Road P.O. Box 700
Victoria, B.C.
V8W 2R1
475-3212
Greater Victoria School District
Approved: September 1977
Revised: August 1993
Revised: November 1994
Revised: November 1997
Revised: March 11, 2019
Modification to this document is not permitted without prior written consent from the Greater Victoria School District.
Regulation 5131.7 Page 12 of 12