Ontario Principals' Council Applauds Government on Student Safety Bill

TORONTO, Sept. 19, 2013 /CNW/ - The Ontario Principals' Council (OPC) applauds the government, and in particular Minister Sandals, for her leadership in introducing Bill 103, The Protecting Students Act.  The bill, if passed in its present form, brings legislative force to all of the recommendations made by the Honourable Mr. LeSage concerning the Ontario College of Teachers.

"We are very pleased to see that the government has moved on the important recommendations made by Mr. LeSage.  The legislation will ensure that students, parents, educators and the public can be confident that student safety will be paramount and that inappropriate behaviour by educators will be addressed in a fair and transparent manner," said Bob Pratt, President of the OPC.

Another section of the bill will ensure that peer review is available for all principals and vice-principals at the College, a basic tenet of self-regulating professions.  Peer review ensures that those sitting in judgment have walked in the shoes of those they are judging.  For over 10 years, the OPC has asked that there be at least one principal or vice-principal on every panel judging administrator conduct - someone with the same education, training and experience, who has actually performed the same role, and can evaluate the conduct in question informed by that experience.

"The government has signalled that it understands, accepts and supports the concept of full peer review for school leaders.  Certainly, the Honourable Mr. LeSage felt it was important to the proper functioning of the College.  Yesterday, both Opposition parties indicated their support for the principles in the bill.  We are hopeful that the Legislature can move quickly to pass this very important piece of legislation, since everyone can certainly support a safer school environment for our students," said Pratt.

The Ontario Principals' Council is the professional association representing over 5,000 principals and vice-principals in the province's public elementary and secondary schools. Established in 1998, the OPC advocates on behalf of public education and provides professional supports to its Members.

SOURCE: Ontario Principals' Council

Peggy Sweeney
Senior Communications Consultant
Ontario Principals' Council
[phone]