One year after killing of Jordan Manners, C.W. Jefferys has changed

Students and staff at C.W. Jefferys Collegiate marked the one year anniversary of the killing of Jordan Manners on Friday.

It was on May 23, 2007, that the 15-year-old was shot and killed in a hallway inside the school.

Two teens, both 17, have been charged in the killing.

Manners' death shocked the city.  It led to many questions being asked about the safety of students in Toronto schools. It also led to the Falconer report, which recommended ways to fix the problems.

One year after the death, students at C.W. Jefferys say they see a world of difference.

"Just the environment," said one student. "Kids feel safer going to school now, some kids get along better now." 

Others told CBC News the new school principal and vice-principal made a difference. Some said the new security cameras were an important development because they made the students better behaved.

"There's more control over the school, there's more, like, programs being set up. More kids are getting what they want for classes. So I think the kids kind of care more. They feel like they're being cared about more," said Keisha Mitchell-Pitter. 

The school has undergone physical and cultural changes.

There are leadership programs, a new fitness centre, new computers, hall monitors and a child and youth worker.

'The kids are respecting each other'

Jacquie Mitchell once described her daughter's school as a war zone: fights, loitering, disrespect.

One year later, she said, things are different.

"The whole attitude of the school has changed. Like, the kids are respecting the school. The kids are respecting each other and they're respecting the teachers because they're getting respect from the principal," said Mitchell. 

Gabriel Fowodu, who has a 16-year-old daughter at C.W. Jefferys, now sees a school that has a sense of pride.

"There's no way you can ever be the same again, nothing you can do, but they [the school] handled it maturely.  You can see the excitement, they want our school to be remembered for good things."

Fowodu said he believes C.W. Jefferys will continue to build on its achievements and not just be remembered as the school where Jordan Manners was killed.

But Mitchell said it shouldn't be forgotten that the school's gains come after a huge loss.

"It just makes me ashamed as a member of the community that a child had to die in our school in order for the right people to see how desperate, not just our school, but other high schools are."

Mitchell said C.W. Jeffreys isn't a perfect school, but given where it was a year ago, it's at a much better place.