The Sooke School District has revamped how it reacts to threats of violence by students in the wake of a number of high-profile criminal incidents within the past two years.

SD 62 signed off on a community threat assessment protocol in June, which establishes close co-ordination with police and government agencies if a student is deemed to be displaying high-risk, threatening or self-destructive behaviour.

Under certain conditions, protocol allows the district and agencies B次元官网网址� Ministry of Child and Family Development, the RCMP and the Vancouver Island Health Authority B次元官网网址� to share normally private information to help determine the scope and validity of a threat.

B次元官网网址淏asically safety trumps privacy, (the protocol) allows agencies to share information,B次元官网网址� said Dave Betts, SD 62 assistant superintendent and a key player behind creating the protocol. B次元官网网址淲e have new rules of engagement. We do have the right to search backpacks and lockers, and we will if we believe there is a safety concern.B次元官网网址�

The drive to create a formal risk assessment plan developed after Belmont and Edward Milne high schools suffered bomb threats, a student torched a classroom at Dunsmuir middle school last year. The brutal murder of Kimberly Proctor by students Kruse Wellwood and Cameron Moffat also underlined the need for a more sophisticated threat assessment procedures.

B次元官网网址淯sually itB次元官网网址檚 stuff you would only see on TV, but itB次元官网网址檚 not TV B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 happened here,B次元官网网址� Betts said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 eye-opening the things that happen in our community. As a result we wanted to look how to ensure safety at the schools.B次元官网网址�

The protocol provides systematic, detailed procedures to guide teachers or administrators who see or receive information about a student threat. If deemed a credible risk of violence, a district response team can be called in, who might contact police, social workers or parents to build a broader picture of the student.

Instances where the protocol could be activated include verbal, written or electronic threats of violence against student or staff, bomb threats and bringing weapons to school. Teachers may also recognize changes in student behaviour due to stresses at home or school, and could act to head off acting out in a self-destructive way.

B次元官网网址�(Response) really depends on circumstance B次元官网网址� if the threat is immediate or brewing in the future. Every event is different, but (the protocol) allows us to figure out the level of risk,B次元官网网址� Betts said. B次元官网网址淏ut if a school canB次元官网网址檛 answer a question, the district team, MCFD, VIHA or police might have the information.B次元官网网址�

The district activated response teams several times last year, but Betts declined to reveal details. He said the perceived threats were serious enough to warrant risk assessments.

He stressed the protocol isnB次元官网网址檛 about arresting or punishing students, but trying to get troubled students help through counselling and fostering a collaborative approach with police and social service agencies.

B次元官网网址淐ommitting a violent act is an evolutionary process, a build up that is predictable. YouB次元官网网址檝e got to look for indicators,B次元官网网址� Betts said. B次元官网网址淲e have to recognize the indicators and prevent the violent act.B次元官网网址�

Betts said having the RCMP, VIHA and MCFD sign off on the protocol was months of negotiations to build a secure system to pass sensitive information within the group, while ensuring it canB次元官网网址檛 fall into the wrong hands.

B次元官网网址淭he collaborative group is a powerful component of this,B次元官网网址� Betts said. B次元官网网址淭here is a lot of information sharing.B次元官网网址�

Former West Shore RCMP detachment commander Mark Fisher, who signed off on the protocol, said officers regularly deal with troubled youth in isolation from social services or schools.

B次元官网网址淭his will help put the pieces together so everyone has a clear picture of whatB次元官网网址檚 going on, and can have better responses. We donB次元官网网址檛 want to interfere if MCFD or the school district is doing something,B次元官网网址� Fisher said.

B次元官网网址淚 think it is a postive step on the part of the school district. It makes sure the right questions are asked when it comes to high risk behaviour and makes all the appropriate people in the know.B次元官网网址�

editor@goldstreamgazette.com