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McGuinty Government Introduces Safe Welcome Program, Security Access
Devices
TORONTO, Sept. 21 /CNW/ - A new Safe Welcome Program is being introduced
across the province as the first in a series of initiatives this fall to make
Ontario schools safer, Education Minister Gerard Kennedy said today.
"Parents should know that all elementary schools will now be able to
ensure that the only people coming in and out of the school are those who
belong there," said Kennedy. "Our overall programming plan has increased the
number of new staff in schools and meets the requests of principals and parent
councils for better entry security."
The Safe Welcome Program is the first of several steps to be introduced
this fall under the Safe Schools Action Plan. The program relates to how
visitors can gain access to schools and how visitors are screened and directed
to the office.
To improve student safety, there are also approximately 11,000 new staff
in Ontario's publicly funded schools. As well, 878 elementary schools across
the province are installing security access devices. The devices, like
apartment video intercom entry systems, will be installed in schools where the
main office is not within sight of the main entrance. The new devices will
help office staff monitor who is entering schools and will complement other
existing safety programs.
The government is acting on the needs identified through safety audits
which were provided to every school in 2004 to raise awareness of safety and
security issues in and around schools. As part of the Safe Schools Action
Plan, the government is providing schools with the tools, policies and funding
needed to make them safer, better places to learn.
"This will help schools to be hubs of their community by continuing to
engage parents and community members in activities, while ensuring the safety
of students is preserved," said Kennedy.
Precious Blood Catholic Elementary School is among the 101 schools in the
Toronto Catholic District School Board that have installed a security access
device through government funding. The school also has student safety
patrollers, recess door monitors, a reflective mirror in the front office and
teacher monitors on buses.
"The security access device frees staff to focus on students and their
job without the worry of intruders," said Rose Greenaway, secretary at
Precious Blood Catholic School.
"I don't have to be concerned about who is coming in and out of the
school - I know."
The school safety audits also found that, although most Ontario schools
are safe, there are still areas left for improvement:
- 63 per cent of elementary schools reported that they could see the
main entrance from the school office. The remaining 37 percent were
eligible for funding for access devices
- 60 per cent of elementary schools reported that visitors can only
access the school through one door
- 94 per cent of elementary students feel safe at school.
Liz Sandals, Parliamentary Assistant to Minister of Community Safety and
Correctional Services Monte Kwinter, is leading the action team of safety
experts who are implementing the Safe School Action plan.
"We know that schools that are safe from violence help students to focus
on learning so they can reach their potential," said Sandals.
"Our government is working collaboratively with school staff to ensure
that Ontario's publicly funded schools are truly great places to learn, grow
and achieve,"
Next steps in the plan include:
- A complete review of the Safe Schools Act
- A bullying prevention program for every school
- A review of Justice Sydney Robins' recommendations on the prevention
of sexual misconduct in Ontario schools.
"Safe schools are a prerequisite for student achievement," said Kennedy.
"Every student has the right to feel safe and be safe in school and on
school grounds."
Disponible en français.
www.edu.gov.on.ca
www.resultsontario.gov.on.ca
Backgrounder
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MAKING ONTARIO SCHOOLS SAFER PLACES TO LEARN
The Ontario government is making its publicly funded schools better
places to learn by introducing a Safe Welcome Program as part of the
comprehensive Safe Schools Action Plan.
The Safe Welcome Program
The Safe Welcome Program is being introduced across the province to help
staff preserve student safety, while continuing to engage parents and the
community in school activities, as part of the government's Safe Schools
Action plan. The Safe Welcome Program includes five key elements relating to
how visitors can gain access to schools and how visitors are screened and
directed to the office.
- Visitors only access schools through one clearly marked door, with
limited exceptions
- Signs are posted requesting that all visitors check in to the office
- Directions to the main office are clearly displayed
- A visitor sign-in and name tag policy is in place.
- Security access devices are provided to elementary schools that do
not have clear sight lines to the front door from the main office and
have a locked door policy in place.
Security Access Devices
To date, ongoing safety audits of schools by principals and school
councils have identified 878 elementary schools in need of security access
devices. Each eligible elementary school qualified for up to $4,000 for the
purchase and installation of security access devices. Security access devices,
which include a camera, monitor, intercom system and remote door release
device, are being installed in schools where the main office is not within
sight of the main entrance and that have a locked- door policy. The devices
have a pan and tilt feature to view incomers at a height of 3 to 6.5 feet. The
devices will help staff monitor activity in the schools and complement
existing safety programs. School staff will continue to play an important role
in school safety. Security access devices are intended to assist staff, not
replace staff.
"Security access devices will make my school safer by helping my staff
monitor school activity more effectively."
- Bernadette Rovas, Principal, Precious Blood Catholic School
Safety Audits
The government partnered with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
to create robust safety audit that will continue to help schools and
communities assess both the physical safety and the social climate of their
schools. School councils were invited to conduct safety audits, to evaluate
their needs for enhancement. Conducted by a school team that includes the
principal, a teacher, parent, staff member and student, the audit helps raise
awareness of safety and security issues in and around the school. It includes:
- The physical environment, including lighting, locks and the safety of
entranceways
- The social climate, including policies on responding to crisis
situations and bullying.
Schools are continuing to submit safety audits. To date, 2,237 elementary
schools have completed the online survey. As of August 30, results show that
schools in Ontario are safe. These schools report high levels of safety
awareness and show that they employ good safety and security practices.
Results of the safety audits will be released this fall.
Elementary schools that reported that they could not see the main
entrance from the office were able to apply for the security access device
funding.
Safe Schools Action Plan and Team
On December 14, 2004, the McGuinty government launched a comprehensive
prevention-based plan to deal with known safety issues in schools. An Action
Team of safety experts was appointed to advise on the implementation of new
measures to protect students. Liz Sandals, Parliamentary Assistant to Minister
of Community Safety and Correctional Services Monte Kwinter, is leading the
team of safety experts.
The government is investing over $9 million this year and next to make
schools safer.
NEXT STEPS
Safe Schools Act Review
The government is launching a complete review of the Safe Schools Act.
The review will include public consultations and be completed this fall. These
consultations will help the ministry better understand how the act could be
improved.
Concerns have been raised about the act in general, as well as its effect
on the number of suspensions and expulsions.
Bullying Prevention Programs
The government is working to ensure that every school has a bullying
prevention program for this school year. To do this, the Safe Schools Action
Team consulted with experts in nine communities across Ontario in April to
identify effective bullying prevention programs that can be shared province
wide.
Review of Justice Sydney Robins' Recommendations
The government is moving forward on a more thorough review of Justice
Sydney Robins' recommendations on the prevention of sexual misconduct in
Ontario schools.
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School Safety is a Prerequisite for Student Achievement
"A school environment should be one in which every student feels safe."
"It is demonstrated that there is a direct connection between healthy
school environments, behaviours and attitudes of students, parents and
educators; and academic performance and achievement."
- Healthy School Environment and Enhanced Educational Performance: The
Case of Charles Young Elementary School, Washington, D.C., 2002 by
Michael A. Berry
"At the school level, this 'safety' variable consistently accounted for
statistically significant variance in student achievement between
schools. Safer schools had higher test scores in mathematics and reading
than unsafe schools."
- Effects of School Safety and School Characteristics on Grade 8
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Disponible en français
www.edu.gov.on.ca
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For further information: Amanda Alvaro, Minister's Office, (416) 325-2632, (416) 509-5696 (cell); Wilma Davis, Communications Branch, (416) 325-6730; Public Inquiries: (416) 325-2929 or 1-800-387-5514; TTY: 1-800-263-2892
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