In October, two incidents of safety concerns occurred within the Good Spirit School Division (GSSD) at Yorkton Regional High School (YRHS) and Langenburg Central School (LCS). A RCMP media release was sent out regarding the Yorkton incident. The Langenburg incident was handled internally from GSSD with help from the RCMP.
Details Regarding the Incident at Langenburg:
The incident at LCS in early October involved a potential safety concern resulting from threatening behaviour of a student. The incident was immediately addressed using the Good Spirit School Division’s (GSSD) Safe Schools Administrative Procedure. This included a thorough Assessment of Risk Process led by school administration, the superintendent of schools, and in collaboration with the RCMP, Mental Health, the student’s health care provider, and the student’s family. The RCMP conducted a comprehensive investigation and confirmed that all necessary precautions were in place to ensure the safety of students and staff. The student is continuing their education through the SaskDLC (distance learning), supported by the school.
Details Regarding the Incident at YRHS:
The RCMP news release regarding the YRHS incident is as follows:
Around noon on October 23rd, a threat directed towards Yorkton Regional High School was received via phone to the Yorkton Detachment.
Yorkton RCMP immediately responded to the high school and are investigating the threat. At this time, the threat is not believed to be credible. There was an increased police presence at the school and continued investigation will take place.
Yorkton Regional High School was notified by and is engaged with the Yorkton RCMP.
Measures Implemented Post-Incident:
After the incidents, GSSD put measures in place to support the school community, including reviewing safety protocols and offering counseling services to students and staff. GSSD Director Quintin Robertson said, “Our top priority remains the safety and well-being of our students and staff, and we have robust protocols to manage such situations”.
Policies to Prevent Incidents and Ensure Safety:
Robertson stated, “GSSD follows established policies to maintain a safe and supportive learning environment. Our Safe Schools framework, detailed on our GSSD website, includes our internationally recognized Violence Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) protocol. This protocol involves close collaboration with the RCMP, Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), Mental Health services, and other partners to assess, manage, and mitigate potential threats. Our procedures focus on proactive prevention and early intervention. An informational video was recently completed to highlight the work done by GSSD, and our partner organizations, to ensure student and staff safety”.
Collaboration with the RCMP:
Speaking about collaboration, the GSSD Director said, “GSSD values its strong partnership with the RCMP in responding to potential safety concerns. For incidents like the one at LCS, we engaged RCMP resources immediately. In contrast, the recent situation in Yorkton involved an anonymous tip to an RCMP information line, which was determined to be a non-bonafide threat early in the assessment. Nevertheless, the RCMP communicated with Yorkton Regional High School and increased their presence to reassure the school community, even though there was no verified threat to students or staff”.
Communication with Parents:
GSSD shared the following information with parents of Yorkton Regional High School regarding the incident:
“Over the noon hour, we were informed by RCMP of a threat they received concerning the Yorkton Regional High School. RCMP officials have assessed the situation and have confirmed that there is no threat.
Please rest assured that we are committed to the safety of our students and staff, and we will continue to work diligently to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the YRHS school administration or the local RCMP detachment at 306-786-2400.”
The GSSD Director stated that LCS administration shared information with parents, reassuring them about the safety measures taken and providing contact information for additional questions or concerns. The following message was shared post-incident with the LCS community: “We wanted to let you know about a recent incident that was reported at Langenburg Central School (LCS). Upon learning of the situation, the Good Spirit School Division (GSSD) immediately activated its Safe Schools Administrative Procedure, including an Assessment of Risk Process. As part of our investigation, school administrators, alongside the superintendent of schools, interviewed students and reviewed all relevant information. The RCMP has also been involved and assured us that all necessary precautions have been taken. Their investigation is ongoing, and they will continue to monitor the situation closely. We understand that incidents like this can cause concern. Please know that our students’ and staff’s safety and well-being are our highest priority. We are committed to maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment at LCS and will keep you posted on any further developments if you need to. If you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch with the LCS school administration or the local RCMP detachment at 306-745-4740. Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.”
Robertson said, “Every year, GSSD, along with our sister school division, Christ the Teacher, sends a ‘Fair Notice”’ letter to families. This letter outlines our commitment to thoroughly investigate and respond to all threat-making behaviours, emphasizing our priority on student and staff safety.”
The recent incidents at YRHS and LCS highlighted the ongoing challenges schools are faced with, along with the importance of effective communication and strong partnerships in school safety. The school division remains committed to a safe and supportive learning environment for all.