Student Threat Assessment Protocol: Fair Notice
School District No. 83 (North Okanagan-Shuswap) is committed to creating and maintaining school environments in which students, staff, parents and others feel safe. Schools cannot ignore any threat of violence. This represents ‘fair notice’ to our communities that SD83 will address all threats to self and/or to others.
What behaviours initiate a student threat assessment?
A student threat assessment will be initiated when behaviours include, but are not limited to, serious violence or violence with intent to harm or kill, verbal/written threats to harm/kill others, Internet website/MSN threats to harm/kill others, possession of weapons (including replicas), bomb threats and fire setting.
Duty to report
To keep school communities safe and caring, staff, parents, students and community members must report all threat-related behaviours.
What is a threat?
A threat is an expression of intent to do harm or act out violently against someone or something. Threats may be verbal, written, drawn, posted on the Internet or made by gesture. Threats must be taken seriously, investigated and responded to
What is a Threat Assessment Team?
Each school has a Threat Assessment Team which is multi-disciplinary. The team may include Principal, Vice-Principal, District Resource Counsellor, School Counsellor and Police.
What is the purpose of a student threat assessment?
The purposes of a student threat assessment are:
- To ensure the safety of students, staff, parents and others.
- To ensure a full understanding of the context of the threat.
- To understand factors contributing to the threat makers’ behaviour.
- To be proactive in developing an intervention plan that addresses the emotional and physical safety of the threat maker.
- To promote the emotional and physical safety of all.
What happens in a student violence threat/risk assessment?
All threat making behaviour by a student shall be reported to the Principal who will activate the protocol for the initial response. Once the team has been activated, interviews may be held with the student(s), the threat maker, parents and staff to determine the level of risk and develop an appropriate response to the incident. Intervention plans will be developed and shared with parents, staff and students as required.
Can I refuse to participate in a threat assessment process?
It is important for all parties to engage in the process. However if for some reason there is a reluctance to participate in the process by the threat maker or parent/guardian, the threat assessment process will continue in order to promote a safe and caring learning environment for all.
What can students, staff, parents and community members do?
- Listen to children and youth when they express concerns;
- Talk to your child to understand what’s happening;
- Talk to your child’s teacher and or school principal;
- Report any threat making behaviour to any member of the threat assessment team (Principal, MCFD, CYMH, Police) or, if immediate danger, call the RCMP.
- Check out the http://www.erasebullying.cawebsite for parent and community resources \
What do I do if I have witnessed firsthand a threatening act of violence on school property?
1. Make sure you are safe.
2. Contact the School Principal and/or the RCMP and file a report regarding what you witnessed.
3. The Principal will then investigate the report, depending upon the outcome, the Principal will contact the RCMP and the District Education Support Centre will determine next steps.
For further information please contact Gillian Dawe-Taylor, Director of Instruction Equity, Diversity and Inclusion or Safer Schools Together at http://www.saferschoolstogether.com