Hamilton school board to review anti-bullying practices after teen fatally stabbed

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) says it will conduct aformal review ofits bullying prevention practices once the policeinvestigationinto the death of Devan Bracci-Selveyiscomplete.

Board staff will also carry out their own "school-level" investigation into how it handled all of the students arrested followingthe fatal stabbing outside Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School on Monday.

A spokesperson says the HWDSBhasalready begun looking intothe "behaviours" of three students who were taken into custody then released without charge,including a16-year-old boy and girl who were released Tuesday.

But the board will wait to hear from police before beginning itsinvestigation into the 14-year-oldand 18-year-old charged with first-degree murder.

All five of those investigated are current or formerstudents at Churchill.

Shari-Ann Selvey,Devan's mother, was there when he was attacked. Shesaidthe school and board knew her son was being bullied since the beginning of the school year,but little was done to stop it.

"For a month, we've been trying to get this dealt with," Selvey said through tears.

Both the school board and Hamilton police have confirmed they were notified of bullying incidents involvingDevanbefore his death.

Police say their records show two reports of the teen being bullied, onein 2018 and the other in early September when his bike was reportedly stolen.

Det.-Sgt. SteveBereziuk said police are aware of the bike theft, but explained there's currently no information linking the accused in the stabbing to the stolen bike.

Investigators were initially hesitant to comment on whether bullying and the attack were directly connected, but during a media update Wednesday Bereziuk said the bullying aspect of the investigation is "growing" and police are going to continue to "probe" those concerns.

Formal review into safe school practices

HWDSB staff will be bringing a recommendation to the board of trustees to begin its formal review ofsafe school practices which include bullying prevention and intervention at its Oct.28 board meeting, according to a joint statement fromboard chair Alex Johnstone and director of education MannyFigueiredo.

"We will work with students, parents and the community to ensure that all input is reflected in our efforts to collectively build positive and inclusive school and community cultures," it reads.

Despite the school and the board having policies around bullying, Selvey said she feels there's no accountability.

"Everyone failed my son," she said. "Even I did. I tried to save him, and I couldn't get to him in time."

'My life fell apart,' says mom who saw son stabbed outside his Hamilton high school

5 years ago

Duration 7:55

Devan Bracci-Selvey was attacked before his mother's eyes outside Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School on Monday. His mother says he had been bullied since the beginning of the school year.

When asked whether he felt the HWDSBhad failed Devan,Figueiredo said it's premature for him to say for sure, but he doesn't believe that's the case.

"I don'tbelievethe school had failed him based on what what I know. Once we do our inquiry then we'llknow did the board fail? Or is there something else we'regoing to learn through this police investigation that we just don't know right now?"

Minister calls for 'rigorous investigation'

On Thursday, following a pledge to invest nearly$40 million inmental health initiatives for students, Minister of Education Stephen Lecce was questioned about Devan's death and whether school administrators should face consequencesfor what happened.

Lecce said answering that question would meanpronouncing judgment before the investigation is complete, something he wasn't willing to do.

"What I will ask is for a rigorous investigation to understand where the gaps existed so there are lessons learned to ensure no child is left behind as a consequence of a system that is not improving the lives ofyoung people," he said."That's the obligation I have to his mother and to all parents in the province of Ontario."

Still, the minister said there needs to be "accountability" when processes aren't being followed.

"My expectation is when a principal of aschool or viceprincipal ofadministrator is cognizant of a child feelingisolated or harmed or victimized by a peer or by anadult that there is action taken."

The minister describedbullying is an"omnipresent reality in Ontario," adding what happened in Hamilton should show the local board and school administrators across the province that more needs to be done to combat abuse in the classroom.

"Over the coming dayshopefully there are lessons learned that can ensure no child faces the same sense of isolation as this young man."