TVDSB to review police in schools as part of anti-racism strategy

London's largest school board has ended the school year by introducing wide-spread anti-racism and Indigenous-focused strategies that could help address discord and systemic issues within the institution. 

The Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) also plans to examine the relationship it has with the London Police school resource officers, a tentative step compared to other Ontario boards that have cancelled the liaison program completely. 

In a motion passed Tuesday night, trustees agreed to consult with students, staff, parents and community members on the role the resource officers play. They plan to "probe the feelings and experiences of students" regarding armed police presence in the hallways.

The board has said the review must be done by December 2020. 

But police in schools was only one part of an extensive anti-racism motion that passed at Tuesday's meeting.

The board moved to create an equity and inclusivity advisory committee to look at everything from resources to dress codes. What will make it meaningful, the board agreed, is that it will be made up primarily of community members.

The racism strategy was supported by TVDSB trustees after a year that saw overt violence, specifically at Saunders Secondary School, where Indigenous students reported being taunted and threatened.

More recently, the family of a high school student in St. Thomas, who was the victim of racial slurs by other students, said they received no help from a TVDSB superintendent regarding a resolution. 

Going forward, the board said staff and trustees are to be enrolled in anti-racism and anti-oppression equity training, and for the first time, the TVDSB will collect data on race, gender, disabilities, age and socio-economic background of students.

Trustees agreed that information could be "used to put a critical lens on suspension, expulsion and graduation rates ... and student absenteeism."

This past year, CBC London looked specifically at suspension rates in TVDSB schools and found it was going up. Demographic data, that could indicate systemic racism, was not available. 

Indigenous representation

The TVDSB has students from three Indigenous territories, Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, Oneida Nation of the Thames and Munsee-Delaware Nation, attend its schools. 

In 2017, the board made room for an Indigenous student trustee. Last night, it voted to do more to better reflect the needs of that student group.

The board's Indigenous lead and the trustee will now be involved in deciding which principals oversee schools where Indigenous students attend. As well, a person with extensive knowledge on Indigenous culture will also have a seat at decision making tables. 

As for Indigenous families, an ombudsman is being created to hear complaints and to help resolve issues using restorative practices.