TVDSB School Safety Is An Outstanding Issue

This week, while canvassing in Ward 3 and meeting the wonderful residents,

one of the issues raised was school safety. Students and staff feel unsafe while attending school. One of the main reasons I highlighted during the 2022 election was the removal of School Resource Officer (SRO). Since that time, conditions in our schools have worsened.

Recently, during a business visit to a London school, I saw a student being bullied in class and then chased out of the classroom by another student who was the aggressor. The student ran down the hallway to find safety in the Principal’s Office. I wanted to step in, but the teacher present seemed powerless, allowing the situation to unfold. This is just one of many stories I've heard from teachers and students who feel unsafe due to aggressive student behavior. On a different occasion, I entered the boys' restroom and saw a group of students involved in what seemed to be a drug transaction. They quickly dispersed and left abruptly upon noticing my presence.

I've been informed that this occurs frequently, and it might endanger innocent bystanders.

I supported the reintroduction of School Resource Officers (SRO) in the last election. however, the current trustees for our wards voted against a pilot SRO program, arguing that they didn’t want police to 'intimidate' Black and Indigenous students, which I found completely absurd. The London Police Service has consistently excelled in their role as school officers. Their absence is why things have deteriorated. When my daughter was at Beale Secondary School, neither she nor any of the students she knew there ever had any issues with an SRO. As your trustee, my aim would be to restore the SRO program. Students and school staff have the fundamental right to a safe environment.