The Public Schools Branch in Prince Edward Island is actively seeking feedback from the community to enhance safety measures within the provincial school system, including the implementation of a new policy addressing sexual misconduct. Tracy Beaulieu, the director of PSB, emphasized that the new policy aims to establish clear expectations, provide training on early detection, and ensure consistent response protocols.
The branch has shared a link to the draft sexual misconduct policy and a questionnaire for anonymous feedback. Kelly Morris, the manager of policy and planning at PSB, highlighted that the policy was crafted based on research and practices from other regions and now invites input from all stakeholders to strengthen the document further.
The ongoing survey, initially distributed to parents, will remain open until February 2. Morris emphasized the importance of receiving diverse feedback to refine the policy effectively, welcoming any concerns or suggestions from the community without reservation.
The initiative to develop this policy was triggered by a ministerial directive issued in October mandating the overhaul of educational staff employment policies, including mandatory criminal record and vulnerable sector checks, following a case involving a former substitute teacher who pleaded guilty to inappropriate behavior with a student.
The draft policy, which addresses previously unidentified areas such as grooming and boundary violations, is still under review with hopes of finalization by the end of February. Morris stressed that alongside the policy development, efforts are underway to devise a comprehensive communication strategy and training program.
Moreover, the new policy will consider insights from a third-party review led by former P.E.I. chief justice David Jenkins, focusing on student safety, incident management within education authorities, and the circumstances allowing the implicated teacher to remain in the teaching profession. Morris expressed anticipation for the recommendations from Jenkins’ report to further enhance the policy’s effectiveness.
