Nelson Mac staff applauded for quick action

The shock of a possible school shooting hit close to home for parents, students and staff of Nelson McIntyre Collegiate recently when a student entered the building with what resembled a gun and was heard uttering threats.

For nearly an hour the school went into lockdown as police searched for the student in question and parents held their breath waiting for word to be released of their children’s safety.

“When the school board received information indicating that a young person entered the school building with a weapon my office directed the school to lockdown until police services indicated that we could responsibly release our students,” said Terry Borys, superintendent of the Louis Riel School Division.

When police arrived at the school, they discovered the student in question left shortly after entering and no students were hurt. Police found the suspect shortly afterward and he was arrested without incident.

“After completing the task he had originally attended the school for, the male left and went to a family member’s residence where he was apprehended by police. He did not flee the school,” said police spokeswoman Const. Jacqueline Chaput.

It was reported that the student only went to the school with the intent of scaring a fellow classmate, but it left parents and school administrators wondering what if.

Borys said the school has been prepared for a lockdown, but it is a stressful situation for everyone.

“These are unfortunate things that happen and I am very pleased with how the school staff and students handled the situation because, as you can well imagine, this is a critical event in a school,” Borys said.

“Lockdowns are very trying for staff because their first responsibility is to ensure the safety of the young people in the building. We do have lockdown drills and the young people take these things very seriously.”

The Louis Riel School Division has been practising these drills for the last five years and run them annually, but because it may pose security risks, Borys is hesitant to offer details.

There are some precautionary measures the LRSD does take, such as implementing a policy that requires everyone on staff to wear an identification badge around their neck.

“Be it the teacher, janitor or secretary, everyone wears a badge so that we know who the adults are in the building and so our students know who they can turn to if they need assistance,” Borys said.

The day following the incident the LRSD brought in workers from their clinical services unit to debrief students and staff and take care of any counselling needs.

A letter was also sent home to the parents of children attending Nelson McIntyre, as well as the parents of a group of students from Ecole Provencher, who were there the day of the incident.

The 15-year-old male involved in the incident is facing charges of possession of a weapon and uttering threats. He remains in police custody.