Cannabis added to public school smoke-free policy
By Jeremy Appel on October 25, 2018.
jappel@medicinehatnews.com @MHNJeremyAppel The Medicine Hat Public School Division passed at its Oct. 23 board meeting an amendment to include recreational cannabis in its smoke-free policy. The policy applies to school sites, properties, vehicles and school-sponsored activities. It directs school principals to provide educational programs for students and staff to inform them about the health risks of tobacco and cannabis consumption, as well as smoking writ large. Smoking and tobacco use for religious and ceremonial events will be permitted, subject to a principal’s approval. Service animal policy introduced The board introduced a new policy that outlines three conditions for the use of service or educational assistance animals on school property. According to the policy, service animals will be permitted if a student’s disability requires one to ensure “equitable access to the services, programs, or activities offered by the school;” if district requirements have been met to the superintendent’s satisfaction; and the animal’s presence doesn’t negatively impact the educational experience of other students. Appealing principals’ decisions discussed The board passed an amendment to its policy on appeals of principals’ decisions regarding student matters. Parents or students — if they’re over 16 — must follow the administrative appeal process, going to the superintendent prior to the board. Board chair Rick Massini says only certain matters can be appealed beyond the board to the Minister of Education. These issues are: special education placement, language of instruction, home education programs, student expulsion, amount and payment of fees and costs, amount of fees payable by one board to another, board responsibility for a specific student, and access to, or the accuracy and completeness of a student’s record. The board is also creating a new committee dealing explicitly with expulsions, which will be composed of three trustees and a central office staff. Weapons policy updated MHPSD also updated its weapons policy to include a definition of a weapon as “any object which is ‘used’ or ‘intended’ to be used to threaten, intimidate or inflict injury or harm to another.” The policy now also includes an exception for principals to permit prohibited objects for explicitly educational purposes, upon consultation with the police liaison officer. “Knives are not allowed, but in shop class kids may make a knife or sword, or something like that, so that would have to be vetted through the principal,” Massini said. These amendments were proposed by the District Council of School Councils, a committee composed of student council representatives from across the district. 20
-19
