Suicide and threat assessment targeted in new HSD policy

Posted on March 21, 2019 by Vauxhall Advance

By Cole Parkinson
Vauxhall Advance
cparkinson@tabertimes.com

The Horizon School Division board has passed final reading for a policy around suicide and threat assessment.

After passing first reading last October, Policy IFCI Suicide and Threat Assessment Protocols was brought back to the board for second and final reading during their regular meeting on February 27.

One of the bigger additions to the policy was adding wording around suicide assessment.

“As you know, the policy was updated to include suicide assessment as well within that policy and we are planning on incorporating the weapons in school violence piece, which is why the two deletions are there. The policy itself as provided has no changes from first reading. However, in dialogue with Amber (Darroch, associate superintendent of learner services) and Angela (Miller, clinical team leader for the Family School Liaison Program), there are some changes in VTRA (Violence Threat Risk Assessment). The biggest changes is we have included the definition of VTRA,” explained Wilco Tymensen, superintendent of schools.

The policy states ‘The board of trustees of Horizon School Division is committed to creating and maintaining an environment in schools where students, staff, parents, and visitors feel safe. To this end, the board shall establish a protocol for responding to weapons on school property, threats, and high-risk behaviours.’

Another change within the policy revolves around some wording with the Young Criminal Justice Act.

“There is another change where it references the Young Offenders Act and it should actually be the Young Criminal Justice Act. The last piece that is changing is we are adding one more item under number six which basically says at least one follow up meeting should be held subsequent to a VTRA having been completed,” added Tymensen.

A motion was made to pass both second and final reading, both being passed unanimously.

With the adoption of Policy IFCI, Policy IFCJ Weapons in Schools and Policy IFCL School Violence were both deleted unanimously.