Brandon School Division Launches Safe Schools Committees

The Brandon School Division has established a framework for new safe schools advisory committees aimed at enhancing safety, inclusivity, and well-being within its schools. The initiative follows growing concerns about safety and racism, particularly highlighted during a recent meeting where over 20 parents, many clad in black, expressed their worries.

These concerns were sparked by an alleged racially motivated attack on Chinonso Onuke, a Nigerian-Canadian student at École secondaire Neelin High School. The meeting, attended by representatives from the United Nigerians in Brandon Association, underscored the urgent need for effective measures to foster a safe and inclusive school environment.

Mathew Gustafson, the Superintendent of the Brandon School Division, outlined the committee’s objectives during the board’s meeting on September 25, 2023. He indicated that the committees would be formed for each school and would focus on reviewing the division’s safety plan, identifying well-being concerns, and recommending prevention and intervention strategies.

“The committee will also review policies related to the code of conduct, digital citizenship, anti-bullying measures, and risk response,” Gustafson explained. He emphasized that the committees would monitor incident reports and attendance to inform planning, ensuring that recommendations are shared with parent councils and school communities.

Reporting mechanisms will vary, including newsletters, community presentations, and aggregated divisional reports. Should trends emerge across schools, a divisional-level committee could be created to provide additional support.

To ensure broad representation, the membership of each committee will include principals or vice-principals (serving as chair), teachers, support staff, parents, students, and community partners such as police, fire, and emergency services personnel. Gustafson pointed out the importance of establishing a minimum membership to reflect the diverse school community.

“If you restricted it to just two members, it might be difficult to have a representative committee,” he noted. “Setting a minimum ensures that different stakeholders are represented while allowing for participation from various groups.” Participation in these committees will be voluntary, encouraging members to feel comfortable joining.

Questions were raised by trustee Calistus Ekenna regarding the inclusion of cultural groups, like the United Nigerians in Brandon Association. Gustafson reassured attendees that while the division would not impose membership criteria, communities could select their representatives, and individuals could volunteer without issue.

The committees are expected to convene at least four times a year, with flexibility to meet more frequently based on specific needs. Gustafson illustrated this point by noting that Alexander School may have different requirements than Crocus Plains High School, as concerns from kindergarten parents could vary significantly from those of families with older students.

As these committees begin forming, feedback from principals will be shared with staff, parents, and students. Board chair Linda Ross suggested that this topic be included in the agenda for the next joint meeting with the Brandon City Council to further address these essential issues.

Gustafson concluded that the terms of reference for the committees will be reviewed regularly to ensure they remain responsive to the evolving safety needs of the schools and the wider community.