Risk Management at a Glance for Ontario Schools

Community Involvement Program

The Community Involvement Program was released by the Ministry of Education and Training in April, 1999 under Policy/Program Memorandum # 124.

The program is mandated by the Ministry, and managed by the principal of each school, with the school board involved in determining the types of activities and the forms to be completed for the program. This meets all of the criteria for the OSBIE liability insurance to apply in the same way as it does for other programs, such as Co-op Education or "Take Our Kids to Work".

The board's liability insurance carried with OSBIE will protect the students and the community sponsors from any law suits that may arise from the students' activities in the community involvement program for the 40 hours required.

The board's insurance does not cover the sponsors for law suits that arise from their negligence, or for student injuries in the work place.

The Ministry has provided a list of ineligible activities as any activity that:

• forms part of a class or course in which the student is enrolled;
• takes place during the time allotted for the instructional program on a school day;
• takes place in a logging or mining environment (if student is under 16 years of age);
• takes place in a factory (if student is under 15 years of age);
• takes place in a workplace other than a factory (if student is under 14 years of age);
• would normally be performed for wages by a person in the workplace;
• involves the operation of a vehicle, power tools or scaffolding;
• involves the administration of medication or medical procedures to another person;
• involves handling of substances classed as "designated substances" by OH&S Act;
• requires the knowledge of a trades person whose trade is regulated by provincial government;
• involves banking or the handling of securities, jewellry, works of art, antiques, or other valuables;
• consists of duties normally performed in the home or personal recreation activities;
• involves a court-ordered program (e.g. community service, probation).

In addition, the list of ineligible activities for my school board are:

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(See Ministry of Education and Training Policy/Program Memorandum # 124 for details )

See Recommended Forms and Checklists

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