Violence Threat Risk Assessment Protocol
The Lambton Kent District School Board is committed to providing safe learning
environments for all students, staff, school visitors, and community members. When a
student behaves inappropriately, principals will most often employ progressive discipline
strategies to help a student take responsibility for their actions, learn from their mistakes,
and make better choices in the future.
In more extreme cases however, when a student's behaviour poses a potential threat to
their own or others' well-being, the Community Violence Threat Risk Assessment Protocol
(VTRA) supports principals in taking further steps to safeguard everyone.
The VTRA protocol outlines how a school responds immediately to threatening incidents
including but not limited to: possession of a weapon or replica weapon, bomb threat or
plan, verbal or written (including electronic) threats to harm oneself or others, other threats
of violence, and fire setting.
The initial response team is likely to include the Principal / Vice-Principal, police, and board
staff. Should conditions warrant, a Community Threat Assessment Team will be convened.
This community team includes representatives of community agencies who work with
schools and boards to keep our students and staff safe, such as local police and children's
mental health organizations. Parents and guardians will be notified if their child will be
discussed through the Community Violence Threat Risk Assessment Protocol.
If parents/guardians cannot be reached, or if they choose not to provide consent, but a
concern for safety still exists due to threatening behaviour, the threat assessment may still
proceed.
