This week, the BC government gave the Greater Victoria School District (SD61) the directive to bring police officers back into schools.
In May 2023, SD61 came to the decision to end their school police liaison officer (SPLO) program after conducting over two years of research.
SD61 came to the conclusion after this research period that it was not in students best interest to have police in schools because several students, staff and administration shared concerns that having police officers in schools made certain marginalized groups feel uncomfortable and unsafe.
Since May 2023, many have voiced concerns with the Province, wanting police back in schools due to VicPD reporting an increase in gang activity and youth being recruited.
On September 17th, BC’s Minister of Education and Child Care, Rachna Singh, issued an administrative directive for an updated student safety plan in SD61.
The Province says this plan is to be developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Child Care as well as local police departments.
SD61 must now create its updated safety plan and hand it to Singh by November 15th.
The Province’s requirements of this safety plan are that it:
- Addresses gang activity, safety concerns, crime prevention and crisis response
- Improves the relationship between SD61 and the police
- Establishes proactive safety, crime prevention and crisis-response strategies, including student-safety supports needed for the 2024-25 school year
- Establishes a trauma-informed approach for interactions between students and police officers
- Includes a protocol for communication and coordination between SD61 and the police
- Describes the respective roles and responsibilities of the board and the police in preventative approaches and responses to safety concerns
- Establishes a process for changing the safety plan that includes collaboration with the police and provides for 60 days advance written notice of changes to the Ministry of Education and Child Care
The Province added that a key part of the development of this safety plan is that SD61 details how it will collaborate with police, First Nations, individuals, organizations and service providers that relate to supporting the safety and well-being of students at school.
SD61’s response to the directive
In a media release, SD61 said that they acknowledge receiving the directive issued by the Province.
They added that since making the decision to end the SPLO program as it was, they have invited local police services to collaborate on a new communication protocol to enhance students’ safety.
SD61 says that in an effort to understand the risks associated with potential gang recruitment in the region as well as events which could be detrimental to student safety, they requested the following information from local police:
- Any and all data pertaining to gang recruitment or other criminal activity involving youth, between 2015 up until now
- Any and all data pertaining to police call outs/calls for service to each SD61 school (broken down by each school) within the Police Department’s jurisdiction, between 2015 up until now
- A copy of any and all Police policies and procedures related to vulnerable populations (including youth)
Related:
“The Board wishes to clarify the use of the word ‘safety’ and highlight that in our school district, the safety of a student encompasses physical, environmental, cyber, psychological, emotional, and spiritual safety,” wrote SD61.
SD61 continued by outlining all programs, policies and actions that are in place to enhance students’ safety under this understanding of safety.
The Ministry of Education and Child Care has been in constant communication with SD61 regarding questions that relate to student safety and police involvement in the matter and had told Minister Singh that they would have a written response to the Province’s concerns by September 23rd, following the first school board meeting of the school year.
“We are concerned that rather than engage in continued collaborative efforts alongside us and police services the Minister took this preemptive and unprecedented step so close to the provincial interregnum period,” wrote SD61.
They added that they will continue to move the safety conversation forward while considering the diversity and unique experiences of all students and families within the learning community.
SD61 will soon be submitting a progress report to the Ministry of Education and Child Care regarding the strides they have taken.
Police’s response to the Province’s directive
The Victoria and Esquimalt Police Board (VEPB) say they are pleased about the Minister of Education and Child Care’s administrative directive to SD61.
“We welcome this order and are committed to moving forward with developing a collaborative plan that will create positive relationships, prevent criminal activity, address the current safety concerns, and proactively keep students safe,” said VEPB Board Chair Micayla Hayes.
Haynes added that VEPB believes SD61’s current suite of programs, actions and policies in schools are not enough to keep students safe.
“The consequences of not taking action are too significant for children and their families, and the VEPB believes that youth safety must become a top priority in our communities, including schools,” she continued.
After several meetings with SD61 this spring, VicPD reportedly presented the SD61 Board with a draft memorandum of understanding on July 31st.
When this memorandum of understanding was submitted to SD61, the school board stood by their decision to end the SPLO program.
SD61 now has until November 15th to provide an updated plan addressing the Province’s concerns.
