Email and chats (public and private) may be read by your teacher, the AMDEC guidance counsellor, the AMDEC vice-principal, the AMDEC principal, other Avon Maitland District School Board administrators, and/or the AMDEC technicians. They may also be shared with your home school and parents/guardians (for students under the age of 18).
Information acquired through phone conversations, in person, or contained in emails sent to to AMDEC, will be stored, either electronically or on paper, in the administrative system of AMDEC, or in the student’s file. This information may be retained as long as the student attends AMDEC and for the following five years. This information will remain confidential within the AMDEC office.
Staff may be required, by law, to report to the proper authorities when a dangerous or illegal situation involving a student is suspected.
"Students who are at risk for imminent self-harm may need to have a mental health assessment and information may need to be shared without their consent. A counsellor who possesses information about a student who poses a physical threat to another person may also need to act without the consent of the student."
(OSCA Ethical Guidelines for Ontario School Counsellors, 2014)
In addition, Bill 157 was enacted into law on June 1, 2009, as the "Education Amendment Act (Keeping Our Kids Safe at School), 2009", and came into force on February 1, 2010.
Under the new legislation:
- all school staff are required to report serious student incidents, such as bullying, to the principal, so the principal can respond appropriately;
- principals are required to contact the parents of victims of serious student incidents;
- school staff who work directly with students are required to respond to incidents that could have negative impact on school climate (e.g., racial or homophobic slurs), as well as to those that could lead to suspension or expulsion.
