HWDSB bullying review panel sessions start next week

The first consultation session of the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) bullying review panel gets underway next week. 

On Feb. 12 at Westmount Secondary School between 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., the panel will meet with students, parents, staff, and community members to look at how the HWDSB handles bullying. 

The panel, which is made up of three community members and a consulting firm, was created after 14-year-old Devan Selvey was stabbed to death behind Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School.

There will be 15 sessions under the tagline ""Let's Talk Bullying" that will run throughout February and March. Attendees will be able to give feedback on HWDSB's "bullying prevention, intervention, reporting and responding."

The first meeting is one of five general sessions, each happening from 6 to 9 p.m. These include: 

• February 12 at Westmount Secondary School.
• February 19 at Westdale Secondary School.
• March 5 at Bernie Custis Secondary School. 
• March 9 at Saltfleet District High School. 
• March 25 at Waterdown District High School. 

Group specific sessions

There will be 10 other "group specific" sessions, which will engage with different communities whose voices are "less likely heard," such as the black community, the LGBTQIS+ community, the racialized community and the indigenous community, among others. 

Here are the details on those sessions: 

Students with special needs, their families and community: February 15 at Hamilton Public Library (Central Branch), 12:30 to 3 p.m.

Black community: February 18, Hamilton Public Library (Central Branch), 6 to 9 p.m.

Jewish community: February 20, Hamilton Jewish Federation, 6 to 9 p.m.

LGBTQIS2+ community: February 24, YWCA Hamilton, 6 to 9 p.m.

Muslim community: March 2, Mountain Mosque, 6 to 9 p.m.

Alternative education community: March 7, Good Shepherd Centre, 12:30 to 3 p.m.

Indigenous community: March 11, Regional Indian Centre, 6 to 9 p.m.

School board partners: March 12, Somali Community Centre, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Newcomer community: March 12, Hamilton Public Library (Sherwood Branch), 6 to 9 p.m.

Racialized community: March 24, Good Shepherd Centre, 6 to 9 pm. 

In a media release announcing the dates, Manny Figueiredo, Director of Education with the HWDSB said the panel hopes to hear from a variety of community members. 

"In response to community concern, the panel's work will provide authentic consultation and timely results to help all students and staff feel safe, supported and accepted," he said. "'Let's Talk About Bullying' is an opportunity to listen and learn from our general community and people with a unique voice in the bullying conversation."

The review panel includes child psychiatrist Dr. Jean Clinton, former COO of Hamilton Health Sciences Brenda Flaherty, and former McMaster University professor Gary Warner. 

They'll be supported by four advisors and experts in bullying, mental health and special education.

The team has until May to submit an interim report summarizing the community's input. The school board said that there will be more opportunity for the public to submit feedback up until September 30.