On December 14, 2017, the Ontario government published the long-awaited details to support the proposed reforms to funding rules for Ontario pension plans. The proposed regulations describe the amendments to the Pension Benefits Act Regulations that will, among other things: Alter solvency funding obligations, by reducing the solvency deficiency required to be funded (such that…
Industry: School Boards
Education Law in Canada: A Guide for Teachers and Administrators Published
Lauri Reesor and Brenda Bowlby recently published a chapter on Special Education Law in the text, Education Law in Canada: A Guide for Teachers and Administrators. The book is a comprehensive examination of the many legal issues that impact public education in this country. With informative and easily accessible contributions from members of the legal and academic communities, the topics in this edited collection will be of particular interest to those who work or have an interest in schools and the educational system.
Ontario School Boards to Implement Care Plans for Students with Prevalent Medical Needs
On October 24, 2017, the Ontario government released a draft policy aimed at supporting students with prevalent medical conditions. Policy PPM 161- Supporting Children and Students with Prevalent Medical Conditions (Anaphylaxis, Asthma, Diabetes, and/or Epilepsy) in Schools, to be finalized in Winter 2018, will require school boards across Ontario to have individualized care plans in…
Arbitrator Declares that DECEs Need Not be Scheduled “Side By Side” with FDK Teachers
In an arbitration award released on October 13, 2017, Arbitrator Russell Goodfellow dismissed a grievance brought by the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) concerning the scheduling of breaks accorded to Designated Early Childhood Educators (DECEs) under the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) support staff collective agreements applicable to them. Arbitrator Goodfellow declined to follow the controversial path taken by Arbitrator George Surdykowski in a 2014 decision involving the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board (Surdykowski Award) and has established a very useful precedent for school boards to employ. In this School Board Update, we review this important award.
Back to School Edition – Student-Focused Case Law and Legislative Update
Welcome back to school! We hope everyone enjoyed a restful summer season. To kick off the school year, we bring you the latest edition of our School Board Update with particular emphasis on legislation and decisions involving the student body…
Ontario Expands Access to Licensed Childcare in Schools
The Ontario government has announced that effective September 1, 2017, all publicly funded elementary schools serving students up to Grade 6 are required to provide before- and after-school programs for children aged 4-12 where there is a sufficient demand. The programs may be operated by a school board through a licensed childcare provider for children…
Ontario’s Education Equity Action Plan: The New Requirement for Race-Based Data Collection
On September 7, 2017, the Ministry of Education announced their three-year plan for education equity. The “Education Equity Action Plan” (Plan) will serve as a roadmap in the province’s effort to identify and eliminate systemic barriers to student success. Find out more in this FTR Now.
Immunization of School Pupils Act Amendments Coming into Force September 1, 2017
On September 1, 2017, sections 1, 2, 3 and 5 of Schedule 2, Bill 87, the Protecting Patients Act, 2017, amending the Immunization of School Pupils Act (Act) will come into force. Among other things, the amendments require that the parent of a pupil complete an immunization education session with a medical officer of health…
A Legislative and Case Law Update for School Boards
In this latest edition of our School Board Update, we provide you with a brief overview of the significant changes recently proposed by the Ontario government to the employment and labour laws in our province…
Are You Properly Authorized to Make that Freedom of Information Decision?
This is a short reminder to our school board contacts about an often overlooked feature of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) – the assignment of formal powers and duties to the board of trustees itself…