By James Peters

Kamloops-Thompson superintendent reassures parents in wake of school threat

Feb 14, 2019 | 2:20 PM

KAMLOOPS — The superintendent of the Kamloops-Thompson School District has sent a letter home to parents, reiterating the district’s commitment to student safety in the wake of a threat.

Kamloops This Week has reported two students have been charged with plotting to use weapons to attack staff and students of a local school.

In an email to CFJC Today, Kamloops RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jodi Shelkie said RCMP are aware of two students “who had allegedly made threats regarding other students online.”

Shelkie says RCMP “have taken appropriate steps to ensure the safety of all students and staff” at the school in question.

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CFJC Today has chosen not to name the school involved in order to protect the identities of the students, who are minors and cannot be identified under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

S.D 73 Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools, Bill Hamblett says they want to assure the public that Kamloops schools are safe, and they treat all threats seriously. 

“That’s what happened in this case. We have longstanding protocols with our community partners like the RCMP where we all work together to ensure the safety of our students and staff, and our school community.”

The District asks that if anyone sees or hears of something threatening online, to report it to the School District or RCMP directly. 

“In terms of reporting any threats of violence in a school setting, its very important. Its critical in fact. If we don’t know, then the school district can’t act, the school can’t act, the RCMP can’t react, so its critical.”

In her emailed letter to parents, Superintendent Alison Sidow says she recognizes some parents may be feeling “a little uneasy” after reading the KTW report.

Sidow says the district has protocols in partnership with agencies such as the RCMP, and says in this instance “these protocols worked well to keep our schools safe.”

She encourages parents to familiarize themselves with the world of social media, including having conversations with their children about their online activities.

Read Sidow’s letter to parents here: