Latest news with #SchoolResourceOfficer
CTV News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
‘We feel it builds trust': Police back possible return of School Resource Officer program
London police are welcoming new provincial legislation mandating the return of school resource officers. CTV's Reta Ismail reports. It's been four years since a controversial police-in-schools program was paused by the London Police Service (LPS), but the province is introducing new legislation that will require school boards to implement the program. The decision to pause the School Resource Officer (SRO) program was made after some found it could be a source of trauma for racialized groups. A review was launched, led by leadership representatives from the London District Catholic School Board (LDCSB), the public-school board, local police services (Elgin, Middlesex, Oxford, and London), and community leaders from Indigenous, Black, and people of colour communities, according to SRO Program Review Update. 'In 2021, as a result of feedback between police services, community leaders, and school boards, the program was paused until further review,' explained Inspector Pete Testa, LPS, Community Mobilization and Support. Testa said LPS fully supports having officers within the schools, 'We feel that it builds community trust, it provides support for youth, and it provides an opportunity for police to connect with the youth, and support people in vulnerable positions.' The LDCSB issued a statement to CTV News, saying, 'The LDCSB has always had an excellent working relationship with our local police services. We look forward to new opportunities to work together in collaborative ways that help our students and their families.' However, in response to an interview request regarding the return of the program, the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) said, 'We will respectfully decline to comment at this time.' The proposed legislation announced May 29 would require school boards to implement a school resource officer (SRO) program, which places officers in elementary and high schools. LPS say they will be having conversations with school boards and stakeholders – when/if legislation passes.
CBC
29-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Ontario to give education minister power to more easily take over school boards
Ontario is set to give the minister of education power to more easily put school boards under supervision and require more boards to put police officers in schools. The Canadian Press has learned that Education Minister Paul Calandra will introduce broad legislation Thursday, following weeks of warnings to boards that he would implement tougher oversight. Calandra announced in April that the province had taken control of one school board by appointing a supervisor due to financial "mismanagement" and was launching financial investigations of three others, describing his actions as putting all boards "on notice." The legislation is set to expand the reasons for initiating an investigation or putting a board under supervision beyond just financial ones, to include matters of public interest. In a news release set to be released later Thursday, the government gives an example of "board governance dysfunction that is preventing key decisions from being made." As well, Ontario would require school boards to implement a School Resource Officer program if the local police service offers one. Some school boards have such programs on a voluntary basis, while others ended their programs several years ago, after some students reported feeling uncomfortable or intimidated and some racialized communities raised concerns. The government materials say having more school resource officers would "help build relationships between youth and police, actively promote positive behaviour and create a culture of mutual respect." The bill would also give the minister power to direct school boards to publicly post expenses of trustees, the director of education and others, and would give the minister power over school names when boards open new schools or want to change an existing name. The legislation also contains measures directed at the post-secondary system, including requiring post-secondary admissions policies to be merit-based and requiring colleges and universities to provide detailed breakdowns of how tuition fee revenue is used. As well, the bill would allow the government to "require transparency and increased oversight of ancillary fees at post-secondary institutions," reminiscent of a court battle from the early days of the Doug Ford government. Ford's government enacted its "Student Choice Initiative" in 2019, which made some post-secondary fees optional, such as for student unions, but the province's top court struck it down. This legislation instead lays the groundwork for the government to consult with the sector to decide which ancillary fees cover core services, and determine an opt-out mechanism. Children's aid societies have also been under the Ford government microscope, with the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services launching a review of them in the fall, and they, too, are subject to increased scrutiny in this bill.
CTV News
29-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Ontario to give education minister power to more easily take over school boards
Education Minister Paul Calandra speaks during Question Period at Queen's Park in Toronto on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston TORONTO — Ontario is set to give the minister of education power to more easily put school boards under supervision and require more boards to put police officers in schools. The Canadian Press has learned that Education Minister Paul Calandra will introduce broad legislation today, following weeks of warnings to boards that he would implement tougher oversight. Calandra announced in April that the province had taken control of one school board by appointing a supervisor due to financial 'mismanagement' and was launching financial investigations of three others, describing his actions as putting all boards 'on notice.' The legislation is set to expand the reasons for initiating an investigation or putting a board under supervision beyond just financial ones, to include matters of public interest. In a news release set to be released later today, the government gives an example of 'board governance dysfunction that is preventing key decisions from being made.' As well, Ontario would require school boards to implement a School Resource Officer program if the local police service offers one. Some school boards have such programs on a voluntary basis, while others ended their programs several years ago, after some students reported feeling uncomfortable or intimidated and some racialized communities raised concerns. The government materials say having more school resource officers would 'help build relationships between youth and police, actively promote positive behaviour and create a culture of mutual respect.' The bill would also give the minister power to direct school boards to publicly post expenses of trustees, the director of education and others, and would give the minister power over school names when boards open new schools or want to change an existing name. The legislation also contains measures directed at the post-secondary system, including requiring post-secondary admissions policies to be merit-based and requiring colleges and universities to provide detailed breakdowns of how tuition fee revenue is used. As well, the bill would allow the government to 'require transparency and increased oversight of ancillary fees at post-secondary institutions,' reminiscent of a court battle from the early days of the Doug Ford government. Ford's government enacted its 'Student Choice Initiative' in 2019, which made some post-secondary fees optional, such as for student unions, but the province's top court struck it down. This legislation instead lays the groundwork for the government to consult with the sector to decide which ancillary fees cover core services, and determine an opt-out mechanism. Children's aid societies have also been under the Ford government microscope, with the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services launching a review of them in the fall, and they, too, are subject to increased scrutiny in this bill. The legislation would increase the government's oversight of certain financial decisions, to be 'outlined in future regulations.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2025. Allison Jones, The Canadian Press
CTV News
29-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Ontario to give education minister power to more easily take over school boards
Education Minister Paul Calandra speaks during Question Period at Queen's Park in Toronto on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston TORONTO — Ontario is set to give the minister of education power to more easily put school boards under supervision and require more boards to put police officers in schools. The Canadian Press has learned that Education Minister Paul Calandra will introduce broad legislation today, following weeks of warnings to boards that he would implement tougher oversight. Calandra announced in April that the province had taken control of one school board by appointing a supervisor due to financial 'mismanagement' and was launching financial investigations of three others, describing his actions as putting all boards 'on notice.' The legislation is set to expand the reasons for initiating an investigation or putting a board under supervision beyond just financial ones, to include matters of public interest. In a news release set to be released later today, the government gives an example of 'board governance dysfunction that is preventing key decisions from being made.' As well, Ontario would require school boards to implement a School Resource Officer program if the local police service offers one. Some school boards have such programs on a voluntary basis, while others ended their programs several years ago, after some students reported feeling uncomfortable or intimidated and some racialized communities raised concerns. The government materials say having more school resource officers would 'help build relationships between youth and police, actively promote positive behaviour and create a culture of mutual respect.' The bill would also give the minister power to direct school boards to publicly post expenses of trustees, the director of education and others, and would give the minister power over school names when boards open new schools or want to change an existing name. The legislation also contains measures directed at the post-secondary system, including requiring post-secondary admissions policies to be merit-based and requiring colleges and universities to provide detailed breakdowns of how tuition fee revenue is used. As well, the bill would allow the government to 'require transparency and increased oversight of ancillary fees at post-secondary institutions,' reminiscent of a court battle from the early days of the Doug Ford government. Ford's government enacted its 'Student Choice Initiative' in 2019, which made some post-secondary fees optional, such as for student unions, but the province's top court struck it down. This legislation instead lays the groundwork for the government to consult with the sector to decide which ancillary fees cover core services, and determine an opt-out mechanism. Children's aid societies have also been under the Ford government microscope, with the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services launching a review of them in the fall, and they, too, are subject to increased scrutiny in this bill. The legislation would increase the government's oversight of certain financial decisions, to be 'outlined in future regulations.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2025. Allison Jones, The Canadian Press
