The Yukon government has completed 13 of the 23 commitments in the Safer Schools Action Plan.

That accomplishment, the government said Wednesday, represents “significant progress to address policy gaps and enhance safety and oversight across all Yukon schools and government departments.

“All 23 commitments in the plan are on track to be completed by spring 2023.”

Since the last update in July, key milestones reached include:

• completion of training and new requirements for all school-based staff on post-incident guidance and procedures for prevention, detection and reporting of serious incidents involving harm to students (action 10, 13 and 14);

• implementation of new onboarding practices for all school-based and administrative staff (action 12);

• implementation of new policies and procedures for post-incident reporting requirements, including guidance for information sharing (actions 1, 6);

• finalization of a new government-wide communications policy that outlines roles and responsibilities of the public service for leading internal and external communications related to critical incidents and emergencies (action 22); and

• completion of actions 2, 3, 11, 18 and 20, which are focused on enhancing corporate guidance and leadership capacity across the organization to improve coordination and response management of critical incidents.

The government is continuing to undertake systemic changes to improve safety in all Yukon schools. All 23 commitments of the Safer Schools Action Plan are on track to implement by the spring of 2023.

“There is nothing more important than the well-being, safety and protection of students when they are in our care,” said Premier Sandy Silver.

“With the 2022-23 school year underway, I am pleased to report on the significant advancements in our work to implement the Safer Schools Action Plan.

“Teachers and all school-based staff have received training as well as guidance provided by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection to ensure schools are the safe, supportive places we need them to be for the Yukon’s youth,” the premier said.

“Additionally, new government policies and guidance mean all public servants are now better positioned to respond effectively to critical incidents wherever and whenever they may arise.”

The action plan was initiated in response to the Hidden Valley Elementary School Independent Review Report.

Heated controversy ensued after it was learned in 2021 that a former education assistant at the school had been jailed for a sexual offence involving a student. The government had failed to inform school community parents of the initial charge and subsequent conviction and incarceration.

The action plan will enhance safety of students across Yukon schools as well as improve government’s ability to respond effectively to critical or serious incidents.

The action plan contains 23 commitments linked to the seven recommendations in the Independent Review Report.

The committee overseeing the action plan includes deputy ministers from the Departments of Education, Justice, Health and Social Services, the Public Service Commission, Women and Gender Equity Directorate, and the Executive Council Office.