BSD sets terms for safe schools committees

The Brandon School Division has set out the framework for new safe schools advisory committees that will aim to strengthen safety, inclusivity and well-being across the division.

In June, more than 20 concerned parents, many dressed in black, joined representatives of the United Nigerians in Brandon Association at the board meeting to share their concerns about safety and racism in local schools.

The emotionally charged meeting followed the recent attack, described by Brandon’s police chief as racially motivated, on Chinonso Onuke, a Nigerian-Canadian Grade 10 student at École secondaire Neelin High School.

The committees — which will be established for each school in the division — will support a safe, inclusive and caring school environment for all students, staff and community members, Supt. Mathew Gustafson told the board during its first general meeting of the school year on Monday evening.

“Its mandate will include reviewing the division’s safety and care in schools plan, identifying well-being concerns, and recommending strategies for prevention and intervention,” he said. “The committee will also review policies such as the code of conduct, digital citizenship, anti-bullying measures and risk response, while monitoring incident reports and attendance to guide planning.”

Recommendations will be shared with parent councils, school communities and summarized annually at the divisional level, he added.

“Reporting could take several forms, including newsletters, presentations to school communities, or aggregated divisional reports,” he told the Sun after the meeting. “If trends emerge across schools, a divisional-level committee could be struck to provide additional support.”

The committee’s membership, he said, is intended to reflect a cross-section of the school community. Suggested members include principals or vice-principals (who will chair the committee), teachers, support staff, parents, students and community partners such as police, fire and emergency services, agencies and elders.

To ensure fair representation, Gustafson emphasized the importance of setting a minimum membership.

“If you restricted it to just two, it might be difficult to have a representative committee of the school community,” he said. “Having a minimum ensures that different stakeholders are represented, but allows for participation from all groups.”

Participation will be voluntary, he added, stressing that the division wants members to feel comfortable joining.

During the meeting, trustee Calistus Ekenna raised questions about whether cultural groups, such as the United Nigerians in Brandon Association, could participate. Gustafson responded that while the division would not dictate membership, school communities could select representatives and there would be no problem with individuals volunteering.

Committees will meet at least four times each year, with flexibility to meet more often if needed.

“Alexander School, for instance, may have very different needs than Crocus Plains High School,” Gustafson noted, pointing out that concerns from kindergarten parents may differ significantly from those of Grade 12 families. “We want to make sure it’s responsive to the school and not trying to apply the same for all.”

Feedback from principals will be shared with staff, parents and students as schools begin forming committees.

Board chair Linda Ross suggested the issue also be placed on the agenda for the next joint meeting with Brandon City Council.

“The terms of reference will be reviewed periodically to ensure they remain responsive to the safety needs of schools and the broader community,” Gustafson said.

» aodutola@brandonsun.com

» X: @AbiolaOdutola