Overview of Changes to the Legislation
Hello and Welcome. My name is Doug McNeill. I am an elementary school principal and today I will be guiding you through this introduction to new legislation, Bill 157 – Keeping Our Kids Safe at School.
As you know, ensuring a safe school environment is a priority of the Ministry of Education. Bill 157, along with some regulatory and policy requirements – come into effect on February 1, 2010. These changes will help create a safe and caring learning environment in all publicly funded schools in Ontario.
This new legislation mandates that all student behaviours that have a negative impact on school climate must be dealt with and speaks to all board employees.
The key points of the legislation that affect principals and staff can generally be divided into three sections:
1. Reporting Inappropriate Student Behaviour;
2. Responding to Inappropriate Student Behaviour; and
3. Supporting Students.
Follow me inside and we take a closer look at these requirements.
Let’s look at the new legislative directives in order. We’ll start with reporting inappropriate student behaviour.
