Remaining sessions for public board's bullying review panel will be held online

The final two sessions of the public board's Safe Schools: Bullying Prevention and Intervention Review Panel will take place online.

Meetings for the Waterdownand racialized communities will take place virtually via Zoom on Sept. 22 and Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. respectively.

The COVID-19 pandemic has delayed the process set up to examine how the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) handles bullying following the death of Devan Selvey, a teen who wasstabbed to death behind Sir Winston Churchill SecondarySchoolonOct. 7.

A final report will be submitted and shared with the board of trustees no later than Dec. 16.

"We remain committed to providing feedback and recommendations on how to prevent, intervene, respond to and report bullying thanks to the valuable input provided by participants across our community," stated panel member Jean Clinton in a media release.

"The panel and HWDSB aim to build collaborative solutions that further contribute tosafelearning environments, equity and social justice for all HWDSB students."

The board notes the online sessions will be recordedto help panelists review what's said and help them compile detailed notes, though individual participants won't be identified. After that process is complete the recordings will be destroyed, the HWDSB added.

Stories and experiences shared during the last two sessions will help the panel come up with recommendations that will be added to the final report, says the board. Online surveys for students, parents and staff are also set to take place during the fall.

How to register

Attendance for each of the remaining sessions is capped at 100, according to the HWDSB.Community members who want to take part can register now.

A link to the Zoom session will be emailed out the day before it's scheduled to happen.

The board says smaller "breakout" rooms will be used during the second part of the sessions where facilitators will write down what people want the HWDSB to "stop, start and continue as it relates to bullying."