The Kamloops-Thompson School District says a new specialized Violence Threat Risk Assessment Protocol is a positive step for the safety and well-being of students.
The VTRA protocol was developed to identify and address potential threats in schools and communities. It was signed Tuesday by all six partners. Those are SD73, Kamloops RCMP, Kamloops Fire and Rescue, Ministry of Child and Family Development, Secwepemc Child and Family Services and Lii Michif Otopemisiwak.
SD 73 Superintendent Allison Sidow says protocols like this allow them to share information at a level that they may not otherwise be able to. She says it has had a protocol in place for sometime, but it needed updating. “This agreement is refreshed, its been revised based on best practices and of course we have had people from a myriad of agencies who have turned over and so it was really important that we brought together all the leadership from the Kamloops area to determine the best way forward.”
When asked if there was an increased need for this type of protocol, Sidow says there has been issues that reflect how critical it can be to have these precautionary measure in place. “Particularly south of our border, we have seen young people taking weapons into their hands, and we can see the destruction that causes,” she said. “We have worked very closely with the best researchers in the area and through the Ministry of Education all schools have taken training.”
Director of Operations for the Ministry of Children and Family Development Brian Young says this could works as a platform for both improving and creating new protocols that can be used here and elsewhere.