Fair Notice of Student Threat Risk Assessment Protocol

The following letter will be issued to parents and guardians from Superintendent of Schools, Aaron Callaghan on September 6, 2022 at the start of the new school year.  The intent of this letter is to serve our school communities with fair notice regarding the school district’s Student Threat Risk Assessment Protocol.

Dear CMSD82 Parents and Guardians:

Coast Mountains School District 82 is committed to providing safe and caring learning environments for all students, staff, school visitors and community members.  Our school district has been involved in intensive safety training with our community partners: the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ministry of Children and Family Development, and other community agencies and services.  Together, we have developed a plan for responding to all situations in our schools in which students may be posing a threat to themselves or others.

This letter is to inform you that Coast Mountains School District 82 now has regulations in place that require district staff and principals to complete a Violent Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) in all cases of students making significant threats in our schools.  In all our school communities we have signed off on a formalized community-based VTRA protocol.  Such protocols outline how organizations will collaborate and work together to respond quickly to threatening behaviour.  The purpose of the assessment is to determine how best to reduce the risk to others so that we maintain an environment where students, staff, parents/guardians and others feel safe, and to ensure students receive help from the appropriate community agencies.

This letter is intended to serve our community with fair notice.  A Parent Information Bulletin regarding the Student Threat Assessment Protocol: Fair Notice was is provided with the letter for further information (access the link below to view):

CMSD82 Parent Information Bulletin – Student Threat Assessment Protocol, Fair Notice

We are proud to be able to provide this level of support to our school communities and are most fortunate to have our community partners at our side.  We believe that by working together with students, their families, and the community we can support young people to be healthy and happy.

Should you have further questions or concerns, please contact your School Principal for assistance.

Sincerely yours,

Aaron Callaghan
Superintendent of Schools