TCDSB Policy Register     

SAFE SCHOOLS:
ACCESS TO SCHOOL PREMISES S.S.04   

Policy:
 

The Toronto Catholic District School Board encourages visits to the schools and school sites, operated by the Board, from those with a statutory right to visit and from those whose presence will be of benefit to the pupils and/or staff. 

Access to school premises both during and after school hours shall also be governed by the Board Permit Policy and procedures.  

Regulations: 

1.         The Board recognizes that the following persons are permitted to be on school premises pursuant to the Education Act and Ontario Regulation 474/00, Access to School Premises: 

(a)       A person enrolled as a pupil;

(b)       A parent or guardian of such pupil;

(c)       A person employed or retained by Board;

(d)       A person who is otherwise on the premises for a lawful purpose;

(e)       A person who is invited to attend an event, a class or a meeting on school premises, provided the person is on the premises for that purpose;

(f)         A person who is invited onto school premises for a particular purpose by the principal, a vice-principal or another person authorized by the Board policy provided the person is on the premise for that purpose;

(g)        A trustee of the Board;

(h)        A Member of the Provincial Legislature for the school in his/her constituency; or

(i)         A member of the clergy for the Roman Catholic Church who has pastoral charge of the area in which the school is situated. 

2.         Those individuals who are permitted on school premises in accordance with regulation 1 are not entitled to have access to all areas of the school premises.  The principal shall determine access to pupils in a classroom according to Policy S.15, Access to Pupils. 

3.         Visitors for Presentations and Performances 

The Director, the appropriate supervisory officer, the principal or a teacher following consultation with the Principal, may invite visitors to make instructional or other presentations to and for the benefit of the pupils or the staff of the school.  Presentations must be in harmony with the expectations for the Ontario Catholic School Graduate and be in harmony with the Mission and Vision Statements of the TCDSB.  For this reason, appropriate staff is required to scrutinize the aims, objectives and methods of those invited to make presentations in the school. 

(a)        Announcements by Political Parties (Provincial) 

1.         Between provincial elections, the Governing Party shall have the ability to hold announcements in our schools related to Education and Early Childhood policies. Requests for access shall be made through the Director of Education prior to the event. 

2.         During a writ period of a provincial election no political parties may make public announcements in TCDSB schools.  

(b)        All Candidates Meetings: 

The Board continues to encourage political awareness during election campaigns by means of “all-candidate meetings" for its secondary school students. These may be organized during the school day with the permission of the Principal and Superintendent. Such meetings are to be conducted under the following guidelines: 

(i)        All registered candidates must be invited to attend.

(ii)       A panel of students is to be set up with questions to be reviewed by the supervising teacher or Principal.

(iii)      The Principal, a designated teacher, or student may act as moderator.

(iv)      Each candidate will be given an equal opportunity to speak and to answer questions.

(v)       The meeting is to be held for the education of the students on policy issues. Personal criticisms are not permitted.

(vi)      Proper decorum must be maintained. There may be no interruptions by other candidates or students during a candidate’s comments or answers.

(vii)     Questions from the floor are permitted at the discretion of the moderator.

(viii)    There may be no other forms of canvassing or recruiting of students or staff or other forms of partisan activity by candidates.

(ix)      There may be no signage, or no candidate or party information material left in the school other than those that may be kept by students as part of a project or display.

(x)       All candidates will agree to this format before the meeting.

(xi)      Media may be present. No pictures may be taken by or provided to candidates.

(xii)     No student information may be provided to the candidates.

(xiii)    No meetings may be held within 2 days of the election.  

4.         No Smoking Policy 

To convey a warm, welcoming atmosphere to the school and to provide information regarding the Board’s no smoking policy, the following sign will be conspicuously posted at entrances to the school: 

“Welcome to our school

You are required to visit the office to inform us of your presence.

We provide a smoke-free environment.” 

5.         Informing the Local School Trustee 

The school principal will inform the local school trustee, prior to the visit of specially invited visitors to the school in accordance with policy S. 02, School Events Communications and Invitee Protocols.