Stumble Upon

del.icio.us

Digg

Facebook

Print

Email

speakup

Uttering threats and making threatening actions will not be tolerated in District 14, and the message is getting across, says a guidance councillor.

District 14 introduced its new Threat Assessment protocol at the start of the school year to provide safe learning environments for students and staff. At last Tuesday's scheduled District 14 Education Council (DEC) meeting, student services guidance councillor Karla Deweyert provided DEC members with an update on how the protocol is working.

She said the protocol provides the framework to deal and handle all types of threats and gestures. She has worked hard to bring together a group with the skills and support of a multi-disciplinary system serving the young people.

Even though it is only in its first year, Deweyert said the protocol is working. The reported cases of threats from last year are down considerably for this year.

"We are in a safe place in our district," Deweyert said to DEC. "Last year, we felt our schools were safe. This year, we know they are safe."

She credits this to school officials taking any and all threats made seriously, even if it is just school-yard banter. She said principals investigate the threat and assess the level of threat it poses to the school.

With nearly 8,000 students in the district, she was pleased to report one per cent of the total population this year was involved in threat-making behaviours.

"This is great news because it is well below what research would tell us," she said. "I am pleased with the results."

Deweyert added it shows the District is getting the message across to the youth. The students are learning making threats is not acceptable or appropriate in schools, she said, and they understand it will not be tolerated.

She reiterated the intention of the protocol is not to expel or arrest students, but to create safer learning environments.

Superintendent Lisa Gallagher said she feels convinced the introduction of the protocol has helped address the issue. Last week, she said she had the opportunity to see the threat assessment protocol in action. She stressed all threats need to be taken seriously, and, from Deweyert's report, it appears school officials are doing just that.

"I think it is absolutely excellent," said Gallagher.