Guide on Human Rights Expectations in LDSB for Families and Caregivers

A Message to Families and Caregivers

At the Limestone District School Board, we are committed to creating learning environments where every student feels safe, respected, and included. Human rights are not just legal obligations—they are values we live by every day in our schools.

This guide outlines what you can expect from us, what we ask of families and caregivers, and how we can work together to uphold the dignity and rights of every member of our school community.

Our Human Rights Commitment

As a public-school board, we are guided by the Ontario Human Rights Code, which protects people from discrimination and harassment based on:

• Race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin
• Citizenship
• Religion
• Sex, gender identity, gender expression
• Sexual orientation
• Disability, including neurodiversity
• Age, family status, marital status

We are also committed to reconciliation, anti-racism, anti-oppression, and equity in everything we do.

What Students Can Expect

Every student has the right to:

• Learn in a school free from discrimination, and bullying.
• Have their identity, culture, language, and pronouns respected.
• Ask for and receive accommodations for disabilities, religious beliefs, and other Code-protected needs.
• Speak up and be heard if something unfair or harmful happens.

What We Expect from Students

We expect students to:

• Treat all classmates, staff, and community members with dignity and respect.
• Avoid using hurtful, discriminatory, or offensive language.
• Report when they witness unfair treatment.
• Learn about different identities and experiences.
• Follow school rules and policies that promote safety, equity, and inclusion.

What We Ask of Families and Caregivers

We ask families and caregivers to:

• Support our shared commitment to human rights and equity.
• Avoid sharing or promoting discriminatory views—online or in person.
• Work with us if concerns about bullying, identity, or accommodations arise.
• Encourage your child to speak respectfully about differences.
• Help your child understand the importance of inclusion and fairness.

Examples of Human Rights in Action

Understanding the Difference Between Discrimination and Discomfort

In a diverse school community, people will sometimes see, hear, or experience things that make them feel uncomfortable. Feeling hurt or upset does not always mean that a person’s human rights have been violated.

Human rights and discrimination are about unfair treatment or harassment connected to a protected ground under the Ontario Human Rights Code that disadvantage or single out someone because of one of these protected characteristics.

Discomfort or disagreement, on the other hand, can arise when people express their identity, culture, faith, or political views in ways that others may not share or understand. In these cases, the goal is to create learning and dialogue, not punishment.

The goal is to work through these moments by:

• Listening carefully to all perspectives and experiences.
• Distinguishing between behaviour that is discriminatory and situations that cause disagreement, hurt, or discomfort.
• Encouraging respectful conversations and empathy across differences.
• Focusing on education, understanding, and inclusion rather than blame.

Recognizing this distinction helps us ensure that human rights remain a shared foundation and protects everyone’s dignity while allowing open, respectful expression of diverse identities and views.

When Human Rights Appear to Compete

Families and caregivers may sometimes hear the term 'competing rights.' This simply means that two or more people’s rights may appear to be in conflict. These situations are called competing human rights. For example:

• A student’s right to express their religious beliefs might appear to conflict with another student’s right to be free from discrimination.
• A student’s disability-related needs might require changes that affect how a classroom usually operates.

When this happens, schools must carefully balance everyone’s rights to find a fair solution.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has developed guidelines on how to address competing human rights. These guide schools in making fair decisions when rights appear to conflict

How Schools Approach Competing Rights

• No one’s rights are absolute: The Ontario Human Rights Code requires us to respect everyone’s dignity. Sometimes this means that one person’s rights may need to be limited so that another person’s rights are also protected.
• Case-by-case approach: Staff consider the specific facts, needs, and legal protections involved.
• Respect and inclusion: The goal is to find solutions that respect the core rights of everyone as much as possible.
• Dialogue and collaboration: Families, caregivers, students, and staff may be part of the discussion when needed.

What Families and Caregivers Can Expect

• Schools will listen carefully to concerns.
• Decisions will be guided by human rights principles, fairness, and inclusion.
• Families and caregivers will be treated as partners in finding workable solutions.

Competing rights are not about one person “winning” and another “losing.” They are about finding respectful and practical ways forward so that everyone’s human dignity is upheld.

Example of Competing Rights in Action

Consequences for Violating Human Rights Expectations

LDSB is committed to creating an equitable, inclusive, and accessible school and work climate that upholds the Ontario Human Rights When expectations are not met, we respond in a fair, timely, and educational way. Our goal is to address harm, support accountability, and prevent it from happening again.

For Students:

If a student engages in discriminatory behaviour (e.g., racism, homophobia, ableism, harassment):

• The incident will be investigated under the Progressive Discipline framework.
• Consequences may include:
• • Reflective or educational assignments
  • Loss of privileges
  • Mediation or restorative conversations
  • Suspension/expulsion

For Families and Caregivers:

If a parent/guardian engages in discriminatory or harassing conduct (toward staff, students, or other families), including at school events or on school premises:

• They may be issued a formal warning.
• They may be asked to leave school property or attend meetings virtually.
• A Trespass order may be issued under board policy.
• The incident may be reported to relevant authorities.

We are here to collaborate, not to punish. We believe in restorative practises that repair harm and rebuild trust—but we are also committed to ensuring safety and upholding the rights of all students and staff.

Raising Human Rights Concerns Respectfully

We welcome questions and concerns and aim to resolve them quickly and respectfully. If you have a concern:

1. Start by contacting your child’s teacher or principal or submitting a human rights incident form through the online reporting tool.
2. You may also contact Yusuf Abdulkareem, the Human Rights & Equity Advisor at abdulkareemy@limestone.on.ca or 613-544-6925 ext.31256 

Resources for Families

• Administrative Procedure 105: Equity and Inclusive Education
• Administrative Procedure 107: Human Rights
• Administrative Procedure 350: Codes of Conduct
• Administrative Procedure 352: Student Clothing
• Administrative Procedure 353: Progressive Discipline and Promoting Positive Student Behaviour
• Administrative Procedure 356: Bullying Prevention and Intervention
• Administrative Procedure 376: Student Human Rights Incidents and Complaints
• Administrative Procedure 358: Student Suspensions
• Administrative Procedure 359: Student Expulsion
• Guidelines on Supporting Gender Identity and Gender Expression
• Ontario Human Rights Commission
• Ontario Human Rights Code
• Prohibiting the Use of the N-Word.
• Student Human Rights Reporting Tool