OCDSB trustee to file motion to allow uniformed police officers in schools

A local school board trustee is set to file a motion regarding uniformed police officers in schools.

Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) trustee Donna Blackburn will file a motion at Tuesday’s board meeting to change a policy barring uniformed officers from visiting schools.

The issue has been in the spotlight since the Ottawa Police Association (OPA) reported that Stittsville Public School rescinded an invitation to an officer who had been invited to a “community helpers day” in her child’s Grade 1 class. The officer had accepted the invitation; however, the school later asked her not to appear in uniform or arrive in a cruiser.

The officer declined to attend the event in plainclothes because she is a police officer and identifies as such by wearing a uniform, said Matthew Cox, the president of the OPA.

The policy banning uniformed officers dates back to a decision made by the board in 2021 to end its involvement in the School Resource Officers (SRO) program.

Blackburn says she will introduce a notice of motion asking her fellow trustees to request that board staff negotiate a “proactive, positive relationship” with police.

“I’m hoping that common sense will prevail,” Blackburn tells The Sam Laprade Show. “At the end of the day, we want good people to join our police forces and children need to know this is an honourable profession. They go out everyday and put their lives on the line to protect us and keep our kids safe and that’s an admirable thing to do. And that’s the message that should be coming out of the OCDSB from everybody.”

Blackburn is not the only one who feels this way. Premier Doug Ford and Ontario Minister of Education Stephen Lecce both called on Ottawa’s largest school board to reconsider its decision, along with Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe as well.

This is a disturbing trend that needs to stop. Police officers are the people we call when we need help. They deserve so much better than this.

I’m calling on the @OCDSB to immediately reverse this policy and show our heroes on the frontlines the respect they deserve. https://t.co/3BsRzfhyPX

— Doug Ford (@fordnation) May 4, 2023

Police officers are valued members of our community and much appreciated public servants. Like all municipal employees, they are dedicated to serving the people of Ottawa. And they often work in difficult and dangerous circumstances.

— Mark Sutcliffe (@_MarkSutcliffe) May 5, 2023

However, OCDSB Board Chair Lyra Evans tells CityNews Ottawa she stands by the policy.

“We held a nine-month consultation with the community,” Lyra says. “We listened to community stakeholders, we took delegations, we commissioned a human rights report. That report came out ands gave us very clear evidence that there was harm being done to members of marginalized communities. Indigenous communities, black communities, LGBT communities, among others, had real concerns with the presence of police in schools.”

Lyra says the board didn’t come to the decision lightly and encourages anyone with concerns to read the report, which is available online.