Kanata mom sues Ottawa Catholic School Board
Posted Feb 26, 2010 By Sarah Kelford
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Tweet ThisEMC News - A Kanata mother filed a statement of claim against the Ottawa Catholic School Board earlier this month, alleging that her daughter's school failed to protect her against consistent and severe bullying.
Krisha Stanton is suing the board, as well as her daughter's former Grade 3 teacher Ingrid Gemmell and the administrators at St. Isidore Catholic School, Teresa Kryski, Elaine Phinney and Michael Schreider, for $325,000 in damages in a case that Stanton described as unaddressed and ongoing bullying.
According to Stanton, the bullying has left her daughter suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
In the statement of claim, Stanton said that her 10 year-old daughter Jaclyn was harassed during the 2007-2008 school year. According to the statement, another student continually pulled Jaclyn's hair, tripped her and called her names in front of their classmates. Stanton also noted that while the bullying was happening at school, Jaclyn started to withdraw - quit her extracurricular activities, began wetting her bed at night and would begin sobbing when the school bus would arrive and refuse to go to school.
Stanton stated that she approached the teacher and school officials numerous times asking for help.
According to the statement, Jaclyn's teacher moved the students' desks in the classroom, but no actions were taken to prevent bullying during recess or lunchtime.
Jaclyn is now attending a private school and needs ongoing treatment, medication and counseling, according to the statement.
None of the allegations have been proven in court and the school board has until mid-March to state its defence.
"The statement of claim is with the board's lawyers and we are not in a position to comment at this time," said the board's communications officer Mardi deKemp.
Officials from St. Isidore's did not respond to requests from the EMC by press time.
SAFE SCHOOLS
As of Feb. 1, 2010, with Bill 157 going into effect, Ontario is the first province in Canada to require all school staff to report serious student incidents, including bullying, to the principal. Principals are then required to contact the victim's parents.
This legislation was created to make schools safer and help students achieve their full potential by addressing the reporting gap between staff members and parents about serious student issues.
Bill 157 was passed in the legislature on June 1, 2009 and officially came into effect at the beginning of February. Part of the bill's passing was thanks to a 2008 study by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health that proved bullying and harassment can affect students' health, mental well-being and success in school.
Staff at schools and school boards have received training on the new requirements.
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