Image Credit: CFJC Today / School District 73

By Dylana Milobar

SD 73 SEXUAL MISCONDUCT

School District 73 moving forward on improvements for sexual misconduct handling

May 3, 2019 | 4:55 PM

KAMLOOPS — A task force established after numerous complaints around sexual misconduct within the Kamloops-Thompson School District has now completed their list of recommendations for the school system moving forward.

SD 73 Director of Instruction for Elementary Education and Learning Services, Trish Smillie, says the task force was able to first develop a definition for sexual misconduct, and develop a procedure to address future incidents.

“Previously, we were very heavily focused on responding to the person who allegedly created harm to another student. Now, we’re able to look at the incident in a wholistic manner,” she explains. “Comprehensively focusing both on the person that reported in the incident in a survivor-centered manner, and also investigate what happened and work with (them) around learning healthy relationships and boundaries with the student that allegedly created some harm.”

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Smillie says the district has worked with parents who have been involved in these incidents.

“So far, we have received positive feedback from them.”

After satisfying parents’ concerns, the school district will now begin to streamline their education around sexual misconduct for all students.

“In September, we’ll be working with our teaching staff towards implementing some of the new programming, and highlighting some of the areas in the curriculum that teachers can further focus on.”