BSD welcomes province’s changes to improve student safety

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This article was published 07/01/2025 (249 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Local educators in Brandon have welcomed the provincial government’s Monday announcement aimed at improving student safety, and accountability and transparency in the teaching profession.

Acting Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Tracy Schmidt said the Manitoba government has made legislative amendments to the Education Administration Act to bring about these changes.

Brandon School Division (BSD) Supt. Mathew Gustafson said the latest amendments would be a significant step toward improving student safety.

The new framework includes an online public registry of certified Manitoba teachers, which provides details about a teacher’s certification status, including whether a certificate has been suspended or cancelled.

Gustafson explained the registry provides comprehensive information about teachers’ certifications, including their status, expiry dates, any limitations or conditions, and the outcomes of hearings, if applicable.

“It gives the public the ability to search any teacher’s name and view whether their certification status is in good standing, when it was issued, and other relevant details,” he said on Monday. “I believe this is a welcome development. Anything that enhances safety is important to us.”

The amendments, he explained, also increase transparency for the public, adding that while school divisions have always communicated about certifications in the past, the registry provides a public-facing view that makes “the information more accessible.”

Acting Education Minister Tracy Schmidt, who made the announcement, said the measures are important to ensure the well-being of students across the province.

“Teachers have a great role to play in a child’s life, and parents and caregivers are entrusting teachers with their children’s education and well-being,” Schmidt said. “Our government is strengthening the teacher professional conduct review process through an online registry and the appointment of an independent commissioner, which will give parents and caregivers reassurance that reviews will be done in a reliable, transparent way that keeps student safety at the centre.”

Gustafson further said BSD would continue collaborating with the province to inform teachers and address any questions parents might have.

“We play a role within that, but we also have our processes for handling investigations or discipline if required,” he explained.

Regarding potential challenges, Gustafson expressed confidence in the system, noting that no additional obstacles were anticipated.

“The purpose of these measures is to ensure student safety,” he said. “Investigations and complaints can be challenging, but the processes in place are designed to address those effectively.”

Gustafson also pointed out that some aspects of the Education Administration Act amendments, such as regulations related to teacher competence, are still being finalized and are expected to be in place by September.

“We look forward to hearing more about those developments,” he said.

“The registry is now accessible to the public, offering a level of transparency that was previously unavailable,” it read.

Schmidt described the framework as a modern approach to regulating the teaching profession in Manitoba, highlighting its dual focus on accountability and safety.

“As a parent, this is an issue that’s close to my heart because when we talk about teacher professional conduct, we’re talking about student safety,” she added.

Central to the revamped professional conduct process is the appointment of an independent commissioner, Bobbi Taillefer, who will oversee complaints and investigations.

Taillefer’s responsibilities include facilitating resolutions through consent agreements and referring complex cases to a hearing panel for adjudication. This panel comprises teachers, representatives nominated by the Manitoba School Boards Association, and members of the public, creating a balanced and inclusive decision-making body.

Some members of the panel include public representatives, such as Erin Bockstael, a family and community programs manager at the Women’s Health Clinic, and Gavin Bruce Strang, a history professor at Brandon University. These individuals, alongside educators and community leaders, are tasked with ensuring that the review process remains impartial and effective.

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