More controversy over education erupted Wednesday in the legislature.

This time it was Jack Hulland Elementary School receiving the attention after two separate incidents earlier this week.

The Star obtained two emails from the school administration to parents after the incidents. One says:

“Dear Parents/Guardians of Jack Hulland Elementary:

You are receiving this email because of two separate incidents that occurred at the school today.

“All students and staff are currently safe and there is no risk of injury or harm.

“The first incident was a fire alarm that was activated this morning at 11:35 a.m. by a student after exhibiting some heightened behaviours in a classroom. All students were evacuated from the school until the fire department arrived and allowed students to return into the building at 11:50 a.m.

“At 1:15 p.m., there was a separate incident involving a different student who also exhibited heightened behaviour which included yelling, swearing, and the breaking of an interior window.

“In addition, some students may have witnessed the student being physically aggressive towards a staff member.

“Due to these behaviours, the school was placed in ‘hold and secure’ (where students were required to remain in their classrooms while instruction continued) and this also included asking students who were outside to return inside the school.

“Initially this was announced over the PA as a ‘lockdown’, but the school was not in a lockdown due to imminent threat of harm or danger and the change to a ‘hold and secure’ was quickly communicated,” the email told parents.

“We had initial debriefing conversations with some of the students in the classrooms that were most directly impacted before students were dismissed at the end of the day.

“We will continue having debriefing conversations with those classes again tomorrow or others that may require them because students heard or observed the student in the hallway.”

The emailed letter came from principal Jeff Cressman and Nita Daniels and Pamela Booth, vice-principals.

During question period in the legislature, a lively debate ensued over the incidents.

Yukon Party MLA Geraldine Van Bibber said, “We have raised a number of concerns about incidents of violence at Jack Hulland Elementary School over the past several weeks.

“Many parents and families who live in my riding have raised significant concerns about issues related to the Grove Street program (based at the school).

“The issue has attracted so much attention that tonight’s school council meeting has requested the use of the gym to allow dozens of parents who want to raise their concerns about what is going on at the school,” Van Bibber told the house.

“Several parents have indicated to me that they would like to see the minister in attendance at that meeting to hear first-hand about their experiences and how this is affecting their children.

“Will the minister (Jeanie McLean) agree to attend tonight’s Jack Hulland school council meeting?”

McLean dodged that question, but later told reporters she was already scheduled to attend another school council meeting at Golden Horn Elementary School, and planned to honour that commitment.

McLean said she was delegating some senior Department of Education staff to attend the Jack Hulland meeting on her behalf.

Late Wednesday afternoon, the meeting was postponed to an undetermined date.

“I have spent some time at Jack Hulland School, at their last school council meeting, and I have spoken about that in the house,” McLean said.

“I have also — and I will get to that probably in subsequent questions — spent some time directly with teachers — an extensive amount of time — and have put some changes in place in the school,” McLean added.

“The Department of Education supports a healthy, active, safe, and caring learning environment for Yukon schools.

“This commitment is outlined in the Safe and Caring Schools policy, which applies to students, parents, teachers, and other school staff,” the minister said.

“The Department of Education continues to collaborate with the Jack Hulland School community to address parent and staff concerns related to safety and escalating behaviours of students.”