A suspicious call for a student pick-up at a Regina school spurred conversation on safety procedure for the Southeast Cornerstone Public School Division, and they feel confident in what they have in place.

The Regina Police Service were alerted to a call from a local elementary school where the school was called to let a child out early. A parent of the student's happened to show up early to pick their child up, and was surprised when their kids exited the building well ahead of the final bell.

The origin of the call is unknown by police, though early investigation did not turn up any evidence of ill intent.

Police did not identify the school. Posts about the incident were shared widely on social media.

Southeast Cornerstone Public School Division Director of Education Lynn Little said their policy on students arriving and being picked up varies, depending on several factors.

"It'll depend on the age of the students, the grade levels in the school, and on the community. Especially in terms of the size of the community and the familiarity with the folks in the community."

The division's schools always ask parents advise the school if their child will be absent, late, or have to leave early.

"Parents of younger children will most commonly come directly into the school and pick their children up," said Little. "We'll bring them down to the office and away they'll go. In some cases they'll wait in the parking lot and call in, and then that staff will monitor the children until they are safe with their parent. And in some cases, staff will send the children out to the parents, but watch for them during that process."

Little said they haven't had any instances similar to the one in Regina recently.

But when something like that happens, it does cause the school division to re-evaluate the safeguard they have in place.

"As always, when there is any event elsewhere across the province related to schools or systems, it often causes us to stop, reflect, think about and consider our processes and our practices, and just see if there are any little tweaks we can learn from something that has occurred."

Little said having good dialogue between the staff and parents is critical.

"Communication is absolutely key with the school. And I would suggest through a phone call or a note to the teacher. Phone calls are really great because you know that you have spoken to somebody. You know that somebody has received the message. And that's critical. And then staff are really good at monitoring the students; especially the little ones with comings and goings."

 

She added that they also ensure staff are on the grounds, keeping an eye out, as students enter and exit the property.

"Given our location in our rural communities, we're feeling confident with the processes that the schools have in place," she said.