Midwestern

Upper Grand Board ends School Resource Officer program

The Upper Grand District School board (UGDSB) task force reviewing a police presence in local schools has analyzed data and research with a focus on equity and human rights.  The School Board has now decided to discontinue The School Resource Officer program.

And the school board has passed a number of other recommendations from the task force outlining the approach to a police presence at schools.

The seven recommendations include vetting all police presentations using the Presentations in Schools Guidelines developed by the Student Support and Program Services department of the UGDSB. , and notifying students and parents in advance when they are planned.

The board agreed that  police services continue to deliver all foot safety patrol training such as street, driveway, and parking lot patrols, along with bus patrol training.  The presence of police at all UGDSB schools continue when a Violent Threat Risk Assessment (VTRA) is activated.

Staff will also collect feedback from students and staff on all police classroom and school presentations, while administrators collect data on all incidents that police respond to at UGDSB schools.

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(left to right) SPS Deputy Chief Michael Van Sickle and Acting Chief Mike Federico. June 25, 2026. (Photo by Natalia Vega)

SPS turns off comments

SPS Board Chair Kelly Ash said the decision followed discussions with Acting Chief Mike Federico and aligns with practices at other police services.

(File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo Inc. / dehooks)

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