The Manitoba government has received updated school safety plans from every division in the province which will allow for a co-ordinated, systemwide approach that enhances security practices, and supports frontline educators and students.
“Manitoba families expect safe, secure learning environments and our government is taking concrete steps to deliver exactly that,” said Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Tracy Schmidt. “School staff already work hard every day to keep students safe. By strengthening safety plans and improving how school entrances are monitored, we are building on that foundation with stronger, more consistent protections.”
Last December, the minister directed all schools to review their access and security policies, and all reports have now been submitted. The Manitoba government committed more than $500,000 in new funding to help make schools safer for students and staff. The application-based fund allows school divisions to conduct safety assessments of their facilities or update existing data to identify potential risks, improve controlled access to buildings and prioritize safety upgrades.
So far, 16 school divisions are accessing the funding through the Manitoba School Boards Association (MSBA) to complete more detailed safety assessments. As a result, 101 schools will be developing proposals for improvements to reinforce school security.
“In partnership with the Manitoba government, promoting school safety remains among the top priorities for public school boards in Manitoba,” said Alan Campbell, president, the MBSA. “By reviewing our procedures, providing enhanced training and bringing together key experts who can inform this key work, we can continue to keep our students and staff safe. Our shared investments are critical when it comes to the safety and security of our school communities.”
In addition to funding, the Manitoba government has partnered with the MSBA to expand access to expert safety assessments across the education system. Through this partnership, the MSBA will deliver safety training sessions for all 37 school divisions, develop a provincewide online safety training module for school staff and host two school safety leadership forums to bring leaders from a variety of sectors together to connect on shared goals that improve outcomes for students and families.
