Brandon School Division Launches Safe Schools Committees to Enhance Safety

The Brandon School Division has announced the establishment of new advisory committees focused on enhancing safety, inclusivity, and well-being throughout its schools. This initiative follows a recent incident involving a racially motivated attack on a student, highlighting the urgent need for improved safety measures within the educational environment.

In June 2023, over 20 parents, many of whom were dressed in black, attended a board meeting to voice their concerns regarding safety and racism in local schools. This emotionally charged gathering was prompted by the assault on Chinonso Onuke, a Nigerian-Canadian student at École secondaire Neelin High School. The incident, which was described by the police chief as racially motivated, catalyzed discussions regarding the need for a comprehensive approach to student safety and inclusivity.

Framework for Advisory Committees

During the board’s first general meeting of the school year, Superintendent Mathew Gustafson outlined the framework for the new safe schools advisory committees. These committees will be established in each school and are designed to foster a safe, inclusive, and caring environment for all students, staff, and community members.

“Their mandate will include reviewing the division’s safety and care in schools plan, identifying well-being concerns, and recommending strategies for prevention and intervention,” Gustafson explained. Additionally, he noted that the committees would assess policies related to conduct, digital citizenship, anti-bullying measures, and risk response. They will also monitor incident reports and attendance to guide future planning.

Recommendations from the committees will be shared with parent councils and school communities, with annual summaries provided at the divisional level. “Reporting could take several forms, including newsletters, presentations to school communities, or aggregated divisional reports,” Gustafson added. If trends emerge across schools, a divisional-level committee may be created to provide additional support.

Inclusive Membership and Community Engagement

Gustafson emphasized that the committee’s membership should reflect a diverse cross-section of the school community. Suggested members include principals or vice-principals, teachers, support staff, parents, students, and relevant community partners such as police and emergency services.

“To ensure fair representation, it is essential to establish a minimum membership requirement,” he stated. “If you restricted it to just two, it might be difficult to have a representative committee of the school community.” He underscored that participation is voluntary, aiming to create a welcoming environment for all potential members.

Trustee Calistus Ekenna raised inquiries regarding the involvement of cultural groups, such as the United Nigerians in Brandon Association. Gustafson affirmed that while the division would not dictate membership, school communities could choose their representatives and individuals could volunteer without issue.

Each committee will convene a minimum of four times each year, with the flexibility to meet more frequently as needed. “For example, Alexander School may have very different needs than Crocus Plains High School,” Gustafson noted, highlighting that concerns from kindergarten parents may vary significantly from those of Grade 12 families. “We want to ensure 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 these committees. Board Chair Linda Ross suggested that this topic should also be included 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 concluded, indicating a commitment to ongoing evaluation and improvement.