Application
Board Procedure #NP418.0, Dividing Partitions addresses the roles and responsibilities of individuals authorized and required to operate and service dividing partitions in Board facilities.
On this page:
Stakeholder Groups with Responsibilities Under this Policy
- Director of Education
- Associate Director – Corporate and School Services
- Plant Services
- Health and Safety Department
- Supervisors of Facility Services and Caretakers
- Principals
- Administrative Services
- Identified Municipal Representatives
- Authorized Persons
Relationship to Board priorities
Environment – Effective and Sustainable Educational Programs: Implementing measures to improve safety in school and workplace improvement plans.
Student Achievement and Well-Being – Continuously increasing student achievement and well-being through a culture of caring and learning, which emphasizes safe and supportive schools and workplaces.
Stewardship of Board Resources – Aligning human and financial resources with Board priorities by:
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enhancing confidence in public education by increasing civic engagement; and
This procedure is also aligned with the Plant Services Commitment Statement.
Implementation Timelines
Summary of Changes
New definition highlights authorized persons.
Principals’ responsibilities have been revised to reflect:
Administrative Services’ responsibilities have been added to reflect process for identifying municipal representatives who require training and arranging for waiver completion. Identified Municipal Representatives’ responsibilities have been added to reflect training and waiver requirements. Authorized Persons’ responsibilities have been revised to reflect safety measures and the process for reporting damaged or unsafe dividing partitions. |
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Who is affected by these changes and what is the impact on current practice? |
Principals are now required to:
Administrative Services are now required to:
Authorized Persons are now required to:
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Feedback, Timelines and Next Steps |
Revisions to the Dividing Partitions Procedure were approved at the September 23, 2014 Senior Team Meeting. This procedure will be posted and adopted by the system as a working document. Comments will be received for six school months and will be considered by the appropriate staff and committees in April 2015. Questions about the content of the Dividing Partitions procedure should be raised with your principal, manager or supervisor. If additional clarification is required, principals, managers and supervisors may contact Jerry Stoangi, Senior Manager of Plant Services and Pierre Schipper, Manager of Facility Services (Operations). In accordance with Board Policy #285.0, Board Policies, Procedures and Supporting Documents, the Board welcomes all comments and suggestions on Board policy and procedure. Input is an important component of the review process. If you feel a policy and/or procedure needs to be revised, it is most helpful if you outline clearly the specific section(s) of the policy and/or procedure in which you are not comfortable, the reason(s) for your concern(s) and also suggest specific alternate wording to reflect your position. Specific recommendations should be submitted via e-mail to policy.committee@yrdsb.ca, or to the attention of the Assistant Manager, Board and Trustee Services by fax at 905-727-3984 or in hard copy at the following mailing address: York Region District School Board The Education Centre – Aurora Attention: Assistant Manager, Board and Trustee Services 60 Wellington Street West, Box 40 Aurora, ON L4G 3H2 Questions regarding the policy and procedure review process can be directed to the Assistant Manager, Board and Trustee Services at policy.committee@yrdsb.ca or 905-727-0022 extension 2217. |
Document History and Previous Versions
Revision Drafted September 23, 2014
Working Document September 2014
It is the expectation of the York Region District School Board that all employees, students and persons invited to or visiting Board property, or partaking/volunteering in Board or school-sponsored events and activities, will respect the policies and procedures of the Board.
Board Procedure #NP418.0 Dividing Partitions
Document Integration Project Format
1. Definitions
1.1 Authorized Persons
1.2 Dividing Partitions
The term dividing partitions includes all of the above noted partition types.
1.2.1 Common Types of Dividing Partitions
Movable Walls
Dividing Curtains
2. Responsibilities
2.1 The Director of Education shall:
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allocate staff and resources to support the Dividing Partitions procedure.
2.2 Associate Director - Corporate and School Services shall:
2.3 Plant Services shall:
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ensure all caretaking staff responsible for operating and maintaining dividing partitions are familiar with and abide by the requirements of the Dividing Partitions procedure and any relevant supporting documents;
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oversee the installation, replacement and maintenance of all dividing partitions;
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develop and maintain design and installation specifications for all new dividing partitions;
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be financially responsible for the maintenance and service of all dividing partitions;
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act upon all service requests received through the Repair & Replacement (R&R) system or directly from Assistant Managers Maintenance;
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in conjunction with the Health and Safety Department, develop and facilitate a training program to be attended by all authorized staff on the safe operation of dividing partitions; and
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maintain a database of trained Plant Services staff members.
2.4 The Health and Safety Department shall:
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maintain a database of trained teachers, principals, vice-principals and any other non-Plant Services and non-Board staff members; and
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periodically or by request, provide schools with a list of trained staff members.
2.5 Supervisors of Facility Services and Caretakers shall:
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be familiar with and abide by the requirements set-out in the Dividing Partitions procedure and any relevant supporting documents;
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participate in a training program provided by Plant Services;
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support the day-to-day operation and use of dividing partitions;
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perform routine monthly inspections for all dividing partitions in service as outlined in the Plant Services Life & Safety Binder – Operable Dividing Partition Inspection Log;
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where possible, open or close dividing partition before room occupants enter a space;
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not tamper with or make mechanisms ineffective with tie-down devices to dividing partition key switches;
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when necessary, investigate and act upon maintenance or operational issues, including;
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contact the appropriate Assistant Manager, Maintenance if the school principal and/or site manager or designate requests that a previously locked dividing partition initially instructed to be left permanently open or closed is to be brought back into service so that;
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a Board-approved service contractor can be scheduled to begin performing routine inspections, and
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caretakers can resume required inspections of identified partitions.
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2.6 Principals shall:
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during normal school operating periods:
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be responsible for the operation and use of dividing partitions,
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review this procedure with all staff members each year in September and as required throughout the school year to ensure a sufficient number of staff members are trained,
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report all known or suspected maintenance or operational issues to on-site caretaking staff for investigation and action,
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ensure inoperable dividing partitions are locked and tagged as “Out of Service” until such time that repairs can be made,
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provide communication updates to any other individuals not already contacted by on-site caretaking staff who may be affected by an inoperable dividing partition,
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notify on-site caretaking staff if a dividing partition is to be permanently closed or open so lock- out procedures may be performed, and
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2.7 Administrative Services shall:
2.8 Identified Municipal Representatives (as directed by Administrative Services) shall:
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participate in a training program provided by the Plant Services Department; and
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complete a Board waiver authorizing the operation of dividing partitions.
2.9 Authorized Persons shall:
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be familiar with the Dividing Partitions procedure and any relevant supporting documents;
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not operate dividing partitions unless successfully completed the Plant Services training program;
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if only one trained person is available, but two key operators are required, provide untrained adult with a brief orientation of the responsibilities before partition operation;
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where possible, open or close dividing partition before room occupants enter a space;
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not damage, vandalize, encumber access to or otherwise make inoperable dividing partitions;
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not tamper with or make mechanisms ineffective with tie-down devices to dividing partition key switches; and
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immediately contact on-site caretaking staff, the school principal/site manager or designate to report damaged or unsafe dividing partitions.
3. Department
4. Procedure History
Revision Drafted September 23, 2014
Working Document September 2014