Holy Trinity School’s Integrated School Support Program (ISSP) was scaled back as of 2023 due to budgetary constraints at the Calgary Police Service, according to an update provided to Calgary Catholic School District trustees.
The program is part of a slate of child well-being programs provided by the Calgary Police Youth Foundation. That includes a full-time psychologist, a physical education specialist, a school nutrition program, a Multi-Agency School Support Team (MASST), before and after-school care, and a volunteer-based sports program.
According to the update, after-school services are no longer being provided and no MASST will be assigned to Holy Trinity School from 2023 onward. Wellness specialists and physical education specialists will continue to be funded by the Calgary Police Youth Foundation, as well as school nutrition programs and psychologists.
Calgary Police Youth Foundation’s executive director Susan Cron said the foundation has partnered with other community organizations to provide after-school programs at Holy Trinity School.
The program was also expanded to St. Martha Elementary Junior High School starting in 2023 because of $87 million in funding from the province to support student mental health, part of which went to expanding the ISSP program. Physical and wellness specialists as well as school nutrition programs are already being provided – and paid for – by the CCSD, the update said. The Calgary Police Youth Foundation is funding a full-time psychologist and “positive police presence” at the school, which the foundation says is an early intervention tool for at-risk kids.
A total of 417 students are enrolled in this program, according to the foundation’s website.
“It is providing resources for all kids who may be facing barriers to a safe, healthy school experience. It supports their well-being and makes sure they are able to focus on their learning,” said Cron.
Suspensions reduced at schools with ISSP
CCSD Chief Superintendent Bryan Szumlas said the program was developed in collaboration with the Calgary Police Service to have additional staff members to support students. He said Holy Trinity School was chosen in the 2015-2016 school year due to its location (Forest Lawn and Radisson Heights area) and the diversity of students, particularly those from other countries.
“This school stood out as a school that was in need of additional support,” he told trustees at a board meeting on Wednesday.
Szumlas also said the number of suspensions at St. Martha Elementary Junior High School have reduced significantly since the ISSP model was introduced.
“We’re able to make more connections with counsellors, with police services, the school resource officer at school … So that was a success, in our opinion,” he said.
Szumlas said later in the meeting that the Calgary Police Service still remains committed to the program at Holy Trinity School despite the funding changes. CCSD administration has not looked at additional funding and grants because the goals need to be aligned with the police partnership.
“It’s with their funding that we’re able to do some of the things that were done in the past. Maybe that funding doesn’t exist anymore,” he said.
“Overall, the Calgary Police Service remains committed to the ISSP project … We’re very proud to be a partner with them as we continue to support two ISSP programs within the CCSD.
Szumlas said the Calgary Police Youth Foundation told CCSD administration that it plans to expand the ISSP program to one more school in the Calgary area. However, he said it is not guaranteed that it will be a CCSD school since the program is also being provided at two Calgary Board of Education schools.
“We’re still working together with them on determining what the next school would be. It appears that it’s going to be a Calgary Catholic school, but it may not be a Calgary Catholic school. It may be [the Calgary Board of Education’s] turn to get the next one, and then we would have the school after that. It’s still in conversation as we go forward,” he said.
