High profile acts of school and university violence combined with other traumatic events have understandably elevated the anxiety level of students, parents, teachers, support staff and community members. In the absence of clearly stated expectations and supporting procedures, there is a strong likelihood of either over-reaction or under-reaction when high risk or threat making behaviours occur.
Our school district, in partnership with several key youth service providers in the community including Ministry of Children and Family Development, RCMP, VIHA, Youth Probation Services, Family Resource Association, Regional District of Nanaimo, City of Parksville, and others, is seeking to develop comprehensive policy and protocols that will help us to respond quickly, cooperatively, and effectively to assess and respond to threat-making behaviours.
At Ballenas, our admin team, counsellors, and other key support staff have received formal training in the area of threat assessment. We will require that any behaviours which are worrisome, high risk, or an immediate threat (as per the attached chart) be reported immediately to the principal who will call a school-based team together to assess the situation. If warranted, a community threat assessment team will be called in. The key is that more than one person will be part of every threat assessment, and that appropriate data will be gathered to assess and plan for intervention.
- Pictures, stories, or journals with violent or disturbing content
- Vague threatening statements
- Pre-occupation with weapons, violence, or fire
- Unauthorized threat – note or graffiti
| - Possession of replica weapon
- Bomb threat plan
- Verbal or written threat to injure, kill or damage property
- Internet threats to kill or injure self or others
- Fire setting (minor)
- Violence to animals
| - Possession of a weapon that poses a serious threat to others
- Plan for serious assault
- Homicidal or suicidal behaviours that threatens safety
- Fire setting (major)
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