Published Jun 21, 2025Last updated 3 hours ago5 minute readBlaine Bernard, registrar with the Department of Education, left, and John Cummings, acting deputy minister from the Department of Education and Early Years, appeared before a legislative committee June 19 in Charlottetown. Vivian Ulinwa Photo by Vivian Ulinwa /The GuardianArticle contentThe Department of Education and Early Years says work is underway to improve how student safety concerns are handled in schools across P.E.I.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 contentAt a legislative committee meeting on June 19, officials from the department gave an update on what is already in place and what more is coming. Acting deputy minister John Cummings led the presentation, joined by registrar Blaine Bernard and early years director Doreen Gillis.Article contentArticle contentArticle content“We want to make sure we all understand how student safety works in the system,” Cummings told the committee.Article contentCummings said that the department and education authorities each have legal responsibilities under the Education Act.Article contentThe department oversees teacher certification and provides guidance through ministerial directives, while school authorities manage staff, student services and day-to-day operations in schools.Article contentThe Registrar’s Office handles teacher licensing and disciplinary action tied to certification. Bernard said his office does not make employment decisions but can suspend or revoke a teacher’s licence, which in turn affects whether they can work in a school.Article content“I may, under the Education Act, Section 102, Clause 8, suspend a license immediately for up a period of 24 months. This would be for the most egregious cases, of course, and certainly this typically happens within days of my finding out that issue. Typically, if a teacher or substitute teacher has been charged with some form of sexual misconduct after I’ve received the information.”Article contentArticle content The Department of Education and Early Years says reporting systems are being tightened to improve student safety in P.E.I. schools. Photo by Vivian Ulinwa /The GuardianArticle contentReporting processArticle contentArticle contentCummings and Bernard described how serious incidents such as sexual misconduct are required by law to be reported immediately. While a slide in the presentation used the word “should,” members of the committee were quick to point out that reporting is in fact mandatory and that word “should” be replaced.Article content“You are 100 per cent correct. It is not optional,” Cummings confirmed. “Under law, you are required to report.”Article contentThe full reporting process involves multiple agencies. If a school staff member is accused of misconduct toward a student, the principal must report it to child protection, law enforcement, student services, parents or guardians, and the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate. The education authority’s human resources team and the registrar are also notified.Article contentMandatory trainingArticle contentCummings told the committee the province has been working closely with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, which delivered training to about 3,000 school staff starting in fall 2024. That includes teachers, educational assistants and bus drivers.Article contentHe said the province is now reviewing a new proposal from the centre to expand safety education in schools.Article contentWhen questioned by Charlottetown-West Royalty MLA Gord McNeilly about why some meetings with the centre didn’t happen until May after a former substitute teacher was charged with sexually touching a student, Cummings said that the department’s work with the organization began well before then.Article contentEarly years oversightArticle contentDoreen Gillis, director of the early years division, explained that the structure of early learning and childcare is different from the K–12 school system. Licensed childcare centres operate as private businesses but are regulated by the Early Learning and Childcare Board, which is supported by her division.Article contentThe board issues facility licences and educator certifications based on standards set out in provincial legislation. It also handles complaints and launches investigations through its inspectors.Article contentArticle contentShe said that licensed centres were recently sent a letter reminding them of their duty to report concerns and maintain safe hiring practices. A new handbook has also been drafted to guide early childhood educators on when and how to report abuse or neglect.Article content“We will be providing that out to our licensed early learning and childcare centres, and then our follow-up to distributing that document will be to provide the professional development, to support the centres in their understanding and of their duty to report in these situations.”Article contentPublic Schools BranchArticle contentTracy Beaulieu, director of the Public Schools Branch, said in her presentation that she wanted to acknowledge how difficult the situation of the public-school teacher charged with sex offences has been.Article content“I understand that there are a lot of questions about what happened and how that could happen, questions that have led to a sense of distrust in the system,” she said.Article contentArticle content“We do believe in being transparent, and the Public Schools Branch has directly shared information with staff and families and with the public within our privacy and legal constraints.”Article content Tracy Beaulieu, director of the Public Schools Branch, appeared before a legislative committee on June 19 to talk about student safety. Photo by Vivian Ulinwa /The GuardianArticle contentBeaulieu painted a picture of a system under pressure and that needs more staffing to protect students. The PSB oversees 56 schools and nearly 21,000 students.Article contentOne of the biggest concerns raised at the meeting was around vulnerable sector checks. Beaulieu pointed to the case of former substitute teacher Matthew Alan Craswell.Article contentShe said he passed a vulnerable sector check in January 2023, despite an extradition order issued against him in South Korea years earlier because that kind of information was not included in the background check due to federal privacy laws.Article content“We seek the support from this committee and anyone else who will join us in advocating the federal level of legislative and or regulatory changes to expand the scope of vulnerable sector checks in order to prevent predators from entering our system.”Article contentShe said staff recently received training from the Canadian Centre for Child Protection to better identify actions that may seem innocent but have sexual intent, such as frequent unnecessary touching.Article content“Sexual interference requires sexual intent, and predators are deceptive. They hide their intent behind actions that aren’t explicitly sexual.”Article contentPSB tracking systemArticle contentBeaulieu said the PSB now uses an interim centralized tracking system to monitor reports and internal investigations to identify patterns, improve oversight and support police when needed.Article content“I want to be transparent with this committee that the tracking system we have implemented, in my mind, is an interim measure. It’s not sophisticated.”Article contentShe noted that the PSB had previously explored software used in other sectors, but funding was a barrier. The estimated cost in 2021 was $40,000 plus implementation.Article contentArticle content“It is my understanding that PSB officials did ask for this but had to de-prioritize the request. Again, funding was the barrier. I have since brought this forward for consideration, and once again, we are very hopeful that we will be successful in receiving funding for this request.”Article contentArticle contentStay informed: Don’t miss the news you need to know. Sign up for our newsletter today.Article contentArticle contentVivian Ulinwa is a reporter for The Guardian in Prince Edward Island. She can be reached at vulinwa@postmedia.com and followed on X @vivian_ulinwa.Article content
Work underway to strengthen student safety in P.E.I. schools
