The Manitoba government is taking immediate action to enhance safety in all schools by providing $500,000 in new funding to support training and by requiring schools to review controlled access policies, Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Tracy Schmidt announced on December 1st.
"As a parent, I know nothing matters more than your child's safety," said Schmidt. "Families deserve certainty every single day. That's why we are acting quickly and working closely with school divisions to re-inforce controlled access measures, so every child in Manitoba is supported and protected."
The Manitoba government will require all school divisions to review and update emergency preparedness plans, including controlled access measures such as locking doors and monitoring entrances, and report back to the government by Dec. 25, the minister noted. These updated plans will build on existing requirements under the Public Schools Act, which directs divisions to assess visitor access controls, emergency response protocols, communication procedures and physical security measures.
"The safety of our students and school communities is the number one priority for school boards, and we appreciate the opportunity to partner with the Manitoba government on comprehensive enhancements to school safety measures across the province," said Alan Campbell, president, Manitoba School Boards Association (MSBA). "Local school boards and our senior administration teams are best positioned to ensure enhanced school safety measures and investment from the Manitoba government have the most meaningful impact in schools."
To support this work, the Manitoba government is investing in safety assessments, in-person and online training, and a cross-sector safety forum.
Working in partnership with the MSBA, the Manitoba government will provide school divisions with access to safety assessment services, with a focus on controlled access. These assessments will identify vulnerabilities and help divisions strengthen controlled access, monitoring practices and risk-prevention approaches.
To strengthen safety across the system, the MSBA will deliver training sessions for all 37 school divisions and develop a provincewide online school safety training module for staff. The training will cover controlled access, risk identification, emergency response and related safety protocols.
The Manitoba government will also fund the MSBA to convene a provincial school safety forum, bringing together education leaders, law enforcement, child welfare partners and community experts to collaborate on system-wide safety improvements.
These are the first steps the Manitoba government is taking and further measures will follow as school divisions complete their reviews and assessments, the minister noted.
