School board responds to human rights review

GUELPH – Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) officials say they’ve “entered a critical phase” in supporting human rights with a focus on implementation, communication and transparency.

The results of a human rights review released in March found the board needs clearer governance, consistent processes and more transparency in how it monitors and addresses concerns. 

Human rights, equity and accessibility commissioner Alicia Ralph presented a report to the board’s policy and priorities committee on April 14.

It states the board is “strengthening governance, formalizing advisory and engagement structures, and finalizing policy supported by clear procedures, defined timelines and system-wide accountability measures.”

Ralph said they're moving from building foundations to “establishing structures” and filling gaps identified in the review.  

That means putting complaint processes in place, finalizing a human rights policy and creating advisory tables to provide input on policy, workforce conditions and system priorities, the report states.

A rollout of the human rights policy is expected to happen this autumn, along with leadership training and pathways to report human rights violations. 

The board’s human rights commitments will be implemented throughout the 2026-27 school year, the report states.

Ralph said that includes ensuring staff and students understand “what their role is in upholding human rights across our system” and what is expected of them to manage human rights concerns.  

There will also be internal human rights reports released annually, she said. 

Board staff have started to work on “accessible, public-facing reporting pathways”  including a human rights website which they say will explain the board’s processes and procedures, answer frequently asked questions (FAQs) and include “accessible contact pathways.” 

Trustee Alethia O’Hara-Stephenson asked if the FAQs would include steps for responding to particular forms of human rights violations like anti-Black racism. 

Ralph said a glossary will explain what is meant by human rights to ensure people understand “anti-Black racism is a form of human rights concern.”

The website will help people seek support regardless of which form of human rights concern they have, she said.  

Ralph said the school board’s work “remains centred in transparency,” and the future website reinforces this.

“The purpose of this website and this visual identity is really around strengthening our transparency, ensuring that we reduce any ambiguity” around policy implementation, addressing concerns and ensuring “system support and accountability,” she said.

Board staff are also developing tools and materials “to support schools and system leaders in accessing and using identity-based data in a consistent and meaningful way,” the report states. 

“We are continuing to monitor any patterns that impact human rights across our board as well as looking at data to inform any targeted interventions,” Ralph added. 

The includes monitoring achievement, attendance, discipline, pathways, complaints and early indicators of disproportionality, the report states, to “support schools in aligning interventions with system priorities, monitoring progress over time and embedding human rights considerations into student achievement and school improvement planning,” the report states. 

“It will also support structured leadership accountability through regular review cycles, ensuring that data informs decision-making and drives measurable outcomes.”

Ralph said a big focus will be on how the board communicates human rights work. 

Board staff will provide updates on human rights progress and actions at ugdbs.ca/page/human-rights-tracker. 

Ralph said this is “for folks to follow us along in our journey and for us to be transparent with regards to the work that we are doing here.”