Staff
The Rainy River District School Board will approve sending a letter to the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) in support of the Bluewater District School Board’s request for a review of the exceptions allowed in regards to transferring student athletes between schools.
In a letter to OFSAA executive director Donna Howard, board chair Dianne McCormack noted that within the current guidelines of OFSAA’s transfer policy, any students who follow the transfer process for personal reasons are required to submit documentation.
“This process involves a level of scrutiny into the students’ personal matters that is beyond what is necessary,” she wrote.
“The current policy also poses challenges for rural boards such as ours, where students may choose to transfer schools to access course offerings and specialized programs, which are not available at the secondary school within their attendance zone,” she added.
McCormack stated the Rainy River District School Board is requesting that OFSAA undertake a review of the transfer policy, inviting feedback from school boards, parents, and students.
“It is our hope that this review will support OFSAA in updating the transfer policy so that it is more inclusive and supportive of student well-being,” she concluded.
Also at tonight’s regular meeting, which gets underway at 7 p.m. at the board office here, trustees will:
•review a letter from the Christian Parents’ Association regarding its agreement, specifically addressing the item of the transportation financial allowance;
•hear a presentation about the board’s intermediate speech contest;
•look to approve the updated Special Education Plan (2015-16);
•look to approve the following policy—5.51 (Assessment, Evaluation, and Reporting);
•look to approve the following policies for stakeholder consultation—2.90 (First Nation, Métis, and Inuit Voluntary Self-Identification), 3.80 (Payment of Employment Insurance Rebate), and 4.10 (Student Attendance);
•look to support the amendments to the draft St. Francis Sportsfield Agreement as presented; and
•hear the director’s annual operation plan.
