Tracy Beaulieu, director of the Public Schools Branch, told a standing committee on education that some teachers are hesitant to pat a student on the shoulder following misconduct allegations involving PSB staff. Vivian Ulinwa Photo by Vivian Ulinwa /The GuardianArticle contentFollowing allegations of sexual misconduct involving public school teachers in P.E.I., representatives from the Department of Education said all school staff have received updated training.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentEducation representatives told a standing committee on education and economic growth this week that school staff, teachers, custodians, bus drivers and others must now complete Commit to Kids, a national training program from the Canadian Centre for Child Protection. The course teaches staff how to recognize signs of child abuse and how to report it.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentRepresentatives said that about 99 per cent of staff in both the Public Schools Branch and the Commission Scolaire de Langue Française have already finished the training.Article contentRecords of employment gapsArticle contentJohn Cummings, acting deputy minister of education, presented at the meeting, along with Tracy Beaulieu, director of the Public Schools Branch, Ghislain Bernard, superintendent of the French language school board, and Rob MacAdam, assistant director of the Public Schools Branch.Article content A standing committee on Education and Economic Growth heard from representatives from the Department of Education on new measures to ensure students’ safety at school. Vivian Ulinwa The GuardianArticle contentMacAdam told the committee that there is a new digital system that will allow school authorities to record and report data related to staff misconduct.Article content“It allows for education authorities to look for any patterns or gaps in a more user-friendly digital place,” he said.Article contentHe added that the Public Schools Branch has also updated its substitute teacher reactivation process. Now, if there is a break in someone’s employment, additional clarification is required before they are approved to return to work.Article contentArticle content“A small example could be someone’s on maternity leave. Could be the reason, but we are inquiring about what those gaps are.”Article contentIdentity and belongingArticle contentMacAdam also told the committee student focus groups have been created to hear directly from students about issues like identity and belonging at school. It has also formed a safety “think tank” made up of educators, union representatives and other school officials to discuss ideas and share perspectives on how to make schools safer and more inclusive.Article contentMLA Susie Dillon asked about the role of the registrar when concerns are raised about staff conduct. She asked why the responsibility to investigate such concerns would fall solely to education authorities instead of being immediately referred to police.Article contentCummings replied, saying that the registrar may receive a range of complaints, some related to professional performance and others involving potential misconduct. In cases where student safety is at risk or allegations involve misconduct, he said, the practice is always to report it to police and child protection. However, other professional concerns that don’t meet that threshold are handled internally by the education authority.
Following misconduct allegations, criminal charges, P.E.I. public schools strengthen teacher screening
