Actions by the school board for reconsidering a suspension:

1. Initiating reconsideration

• The principal requests that the school board meet to reconsider an earlier decision to lift or extend a student’s suspension.
• The school board agrees to reconsider the decision.

2. Notification requirements

• A parent and the student are informed of the board’s decision to reconsider the suspension (letter 4).
• The Ministry of Education is notified via ENROL (see Rule 19, Legislative Guide).
• All information required under Rule 20 of the Legislative Guide is provided to the student and parent.
• The required information must be received by the student and parent at least 48 hours before the reconsideration meeting.

3. Timing of the board meeting

The board must meet within:

• 7 school days of receiving the request to reconsider
• 10 calendar days if the request is made within 7 school days of the end of term.

4. Considering written information

The board considers: 

• the principal’s written report
• any other material presented (see Rule 16, Legislative Guide).

5. Consideration of verbal submissions

The board considers:

• everything said by the student
• everything said by the parents or their representatives (see Rule 16, Legislative Guide).

6. Decision‑making approach

• The board determines which decision‑making process it will use (see Rules 17(2) and 17(3), Legislative Guide).

7. Deliberation

The board:

• weighs all relevant factors
• considers all available options before reaching a decision.

8. Recording and communication of the decision

The board:

• makes its decision and formally records it
• writes to the parent to communicate the decision and provide the reasons for it
• notifies the Ministry of Education of its decision using the electronic ENROL form on ENROL.

9.Board makes 1 of the following decisions.

• Suspension lifted without conditions.
  • The student returns to school.
• Suspension lifted with conditions.
  • The student returns to school subject to conditions.
  • If conditions are not met, this process is followed again.
• Suspension extended with conditions.
  • The principal takes all reasonable steps to ensure the student is provided with an appropriate educational programme (Section 84(2)).
  • The board monitors the student’s progress if the extension exceeds 4 weeks and keeps a record.
  • When conditions are met, the student returns to school.
  • If conditions are not met, this process is followed again.
• Exclusion (student under 16).
  • The process continues in accordance with Flowchart 6.
• Expulsion (student aged 16 or over).
  • The process continues in accordance with Flowchart 6.