School Safety
BUILDING A CULTURE OF BELONGING AND SAFETY
Every child should feel a sense of belonging and safety at school. It helps build positive behaviours, improves academics, and supports health and well-being. Together with families and the community, we are committed to the ongoing work of building a culture of belonging and safety in all schools.
How schools contribute to belonging and safety
Schools contribute to belonging and safety in a variety of ways, including through:
- the learning environment
- engagement
- family and community
- school operations
Foundational to belonging and safety is school culture. School culture reflects the values, everyday behaviours, practices and traditions that guide how members of a school community interact and connect with each other.
MENTAL HEALTH IN SCHOOLS
Mental health supports is one of the ways schools build on a culture of belonging and safety. By working together with families and community partners, we can help students access the right supports for them to be healthy and successful in school and life.
Read more about mental health in Division schools.
SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS
Reintroducing a School Resource Officer (SRO) program to Edmonton Public Schools is one of many initiatives and supports available to build on a culture of belonging and safety.
The Division worked closely with the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) to bring back the program, making sure it fits with the Division’s overall work on belonging and safety and that it responds to the needs of students, families and school communities.
Role of the SRO
SROs help students and staff feel a sense of belonging and safety at school in many ways, including by building relationships through youth engagement, supporting students and the school with mediation and restorative practices, and enhancing school safety.
Some responsibilities the SRO might have at school include:
- presenting to students on a range of safety and well-being related topics
- helping students access community resources
- enhancing emergency preparedness
- providing an immediate response to threats or emergencies
Revising the SRO program in Edmonton Public Schools
The Division and EPS have worked together to make changes to the SRO program to bring it back into schools. This means:
- the SRO’s roles and responsibilities have been carefully developed and defined
- SROs and school leaders take part in orientation as well as ongoing training and professional development
- the Division expanded access to mental health therapists to support all schools
- a memorandum of understanding outlines roles and responsibilities for SROs
- an evaluation framework has been developed for the SRO program
Background information
- In 2020, Edmonton Public Schools put the SRO program on hold after the Board of Trustees decided to hold an independent review. Since then, the Division has worked to listen, gather research and consider feedback from families, the public and staff.
- In April 2024, the Board of Trustees passed a motion that it would be open to a formal relationship with the EPS.
- In the summer of 2024, Edmonton Public Schools began working closely with the EPS to figure out how to reintroduce the program and make sure it fits with the Division’s broader work on belonging and safety, and so it meets the needs of students, families and school communities.
- In February 2025, Edmonton Public Schools began a phased reintroduction of SROs into schools.
Other ways to help keep schools safe
You can help keep our schools safe by:
- updating your child's emergency contact information in SchoolZone (step 4 of the Student Information Correction form)
- knowing the names of teachers who will be working with your child
- following the school calendar and special events
- knowing school start and dismissal times
- following the school's procedures for reporting late or absent students
MORE INFORMATION
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