Policy 23
PRIVACY
The Board is committed to ensuring the privacy, confidentiality, and security of all personal information that it collects, uses, discloses, and maintains in connection with its programs and activities. The Board complies with the School Act and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act in relation to the protection of privacy. This Policy sets out the Board’s commitment, standards, and expectations regarding the appropriate practices for the collection, use and protection of personal information.
Principles
The Board and all Staff shall uphold the privacy, confidentiality, and appropriate use of personal information in compliance with the School Act, FIPPA and the Procedures, including by:
1. being open and transparent about the purposes for which personal information may be collected and used by the School District;
2. collecting and using personal information only as necessary to carry out the School District’s authorized programs and activities;
3. sharing personal information internally with Staff only on a need-to-know basis;
4. sharing personal information with third parties with the knowledge and consent of affected individuals, unless otherwise authorized or required under FIPPA, the School Act or other applicable laws;
5. ensuring personal information is protected against unauthorized access, use, disclosure, loss, or destruction; and
6. complying with FIPPA and all Procedures for the accuracy, protection, use, disclosure, storage, retrieval, correction and appropriate use of personal information.
Transparency and Accountability
The Board strives to be open and transparent with the community about its programs and activities and has processes in place to support the timely response to access requests submitted under FIPPA and the proactive release of information of interest to the community.
Responsibility
The Secretary-Treasurer has been designated by the Board as the “Head” of the School District for the purposes of FIPPA, and has overarching responsibility for ensuring compliance with this Policy, FIPPA and the requirements of the School Act pertaining to student records.
Complaints
The Board will respond to and, where appropriate, investigate, all complaints that it receives under this Policy concerning its personal information management practices.
Definitions
1. “Personal Information” means recorded information about an identifiable individual, but does not include an individual’s business contact information (business address, email address, telephone number).
2. “FIPPA” means the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
3. “Procedures” means the administrative procedures to this Policy.
4. “Staff” means all employees, contractors, and volunteers of the School District.
Legal Reference: Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. Part 3;
School Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 412 sections 9, 79(3)
Student Records Disclosure Order(M14/91)
Updated: February 2023
Policy 23