Upper Grand forms task force to examine school resource officer program

GUELPH – The Upper Grand District School Board will form a task force and hold a town hall meeting as it begins to examine its policies and programs involving local police in schools.

Trustees had deferred a decision on police presence in schools to the June 23 board meeting, where they approved a motion to establish a task force comprised of three staff members (including the superintendent responsible for equity and inclusion), two trustees and one student trustee.

The group will develop terms of reference and hold a town hall meeting to capture voices from the community, including police.

In the meantime, the board will continue its School Resource Officer programs in partnership with Dufferin OPP, Guelph Police Service, Orangeville Police Service, Shelburne Police Service, and Wellington OPP until the findings from the Police Presence in Schools Task Force have been reported, and any future actions have been decided and approved by the board.