On Oct. 31, representatives of local school boards and police services gathered to sign an updated Police/School Board Protocol. The protocol is the result of an ongoing partnership between the four school boards and six police services that serve Simcoe County and area. It is focused on keeping schools and communities safe, ensuring that all schools and the police services supporting them are prepared to respond effectively, efficiently, and in a coordinated manner in emergency situations.
"We are grateful for the strong partnerships we have with police services in Simcoe County," said Scott Young, Superintendent of Education. "In addition to keeping school communities safe, police partners support schools by offering lockdown practices, safety patrol training, bike and traffic safety, digital safety presentations, presentations to secondary school law classes, and participation in charity and career-focused events."
Background
- Original Police/School Board Protocol was signed in 2001
- The Police/School Board Protocol was developed to ensure that school boards and local police services meet the requirements of the Safe Schools Act and Education Act
- The Simcoe County protocol became the template for all other Ontario school boards
- Significant changes to the renewed protocol were made in 2016
- Implementation of the renewed protocol began in November 2016 when principals and vice-principals from all Simcoe County schools attended a joint training session with representatives of all local police services
This initiative links directly to the SCDSB Strategic Priorities in the areas of Well-being and Community.
