Stronger School Conduct and Leadership Rules

Summary#

This bill changes Manitoba’s school laws to update student conduct rules, set clear standards for superintendents, and broaden who can join the Manitoba School Boards Association (MSBA). The goal is to improve student safety, modernize rules for online behaviour, and include Indigenous educational organizations in province-wide school discussions.

• Updates the definition of harmful behaviour at school, including when it targets a person or a group based on protected traits (like race, religion, gender, or disability).
• Adds online and AI-generated content to the types of behaviour covered by school codes of conduct.
• Requires school codes of conduct to spell out what interventions will happen and how appeals work.
• Sets minimum qualifications and defined duties for school division superintendents, and requires notice of appointments to the minister.
• Lets Indigenous educational organizations and some other non-profits join the MSBA and name up to nine representatives; ensures at least one Indigenous representative on the MSBA board when such members exist.
• Most changes take effect at royal assent; the MSBA membership changes start on a later date set by the government.

What it means for you#

• Students and parents

  • School rules will more clearly cover bullying or harassment, including when aimed at groups (for example, by race or religion).
  • Cyberbullying rules now clearly include social media, texts, email, websites, and content made with AI.
  • Codes of conduct must state what actions the school will take if rules are broken and how students can appeal decisions.
  • The focus is on creating a safe environment; behaviour that creates or should be known to create a negative or unsafe environment will face a response.

• Teachers and other school staff

  • References to “staff” are removed from the student code of conduct section, likely shifting staff conduct to separate workplace policies.
  • Superintendents will have clearer authority to manage and supervise staff unless a board decides otherwise.

• School boards and division leaders

  • You must appoint a superintendent who has a valid Canadian teaching certificate, classroom teaching experience, and relevant administrative experience.
  • You must tell the minister within 10 days of appointing a superintendent and list their qualifications.
  • If you keep hiring power at the board level, you must still let the superintendent offer hiring recommendations before filling jobs.
  • Codes of conduct must be updated to list interventions, appeal steps, and modern digital contexts, including AI.
  • Rules about superintendents apply to the chief superintendent in the northern school division.

• Indigenous educational organizations and other non-profits that support schools

  • You may apply to join the MSBA. Non-Indigenous applicants must be non-profits that publicly disclose finances.
  • If approved, you can name up to nine people as your designated representatives and change them when needed.
  • When Indigenous educational organizations are members, at least one MSBA director must be a designated Indigenous representative, adding an Indigenous voice to provincial discussions.

• Timing

  • Most school safety and superintendent changes take effect once the bill becomes law.
  • The MSBA membership changes start later, on a date the government will set.

Expenses#

Estimated annual cost: No publicly available information.

• School divisions may have some administrative costs to update codes of conduct, train staff, and handle appeals.
• Organizations that join the MSBA must pay a membership fee set by the association.

Proponents' View#

• Strengthens student safety by clearly covering group-directed bullying and harassment tied to protected traits.
• Brings school rules into the digital age, addressing social media and AI-generated content that can harm students.
• Improves fairness and transparency by requiring clear interventions and an appeal process in codes of conduct.
• Ensures superintendents have both classroom and management experience, which supporters say will improve school leadership.
• Gives Indigenous educational organizations a formal seat and voice within the MSBA, supporting better collaboration and culturally responsive education.

Opponents' View#

• Removing “staff” from the code of conduct section may weaken visible accountability for staff behaviour, creating confusion about which rules apply.
• Tighter superintendent qualifications could make hiring harder, especially in small, rural, or northern divisions with fewer candidates.
• Expanding MSBA membership beyond elected school boards may dilute the role of trustees or shift the association’s focus.
• Updating codes, training staff, and managing appeals could add administrative work and costs for school divisions.
• Broader language about harmful or unsafe environments and AI-related expression may be seen as subjective and could lead to disputes about enforcement or free expression.