TDSB faces spike in weapons-related discipline in 2013

WATCH: TDSB Spokesperson Ryan Bird and Constable Hillary Allen, a school resources officer, believe that data related to an increased amount of weapons-related discipline at Toronto schools is indicative of more reported incidents rather than an increase in the quantity of weapons entering classrooms.

TORONTO – An abnormal number of TDSB students were suspended or expelled between September 2013 and July 2014 for bringing weapons to school, according to data provided by the school board.

Seventy-three students were either suspended or expelled for possessing a weapon. That’s up from 42 in 2012-2013 and the highest since 2008-2009 when 64 students were disciplined.

And the number of students disciplined for threatening bodily harm with a weapon almost doubled in 2013-2014 over the previous year to 35 from 18.

The most suspensions happened at Central Technical School, a secondary school in the Annex located near Bathurst Street and Harbord Street.

Fifty-one students were suspended or expelled from the school for weapons-related incidents.

Central Tech’s principal Thomas Trotter said the data is not indicative of how safe the school is. Instead, he said, it shows people are comfortable coming forward.

“It’s concerning but we look at the data as information, we don’t use it to stigmatize. And it basically makes us aware and it’s not indicative of how safe this school is,” he said in an interview Friday.

“This school is safe. The students come forward with incidents, with information and that sets up a positive culture, it’s a culture of openness, a culture of safety.”

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TDSB spokesperson Ryan Bird also said in an interview Friday the unusual spike could be attributed to students feeling more comfortable coming forward.

He added that a variety of objects can be defined as weapons by the TDSB depending on how it was used.

But most of the Toronto schools listed in the report had fewer than six incidents between 2008 and 2014.