Children’s Advocate to investigate Dundonald School death

Saskatoon Public Schools has asked the province’s children and youth advocate to investigate what led to the death of five-year-old Ahmedsadiq Elmmi at École Dundonald School.

Director of Education Barry MacDougall made the request Wednesday, two days after Elmmi was found unresponsive in a retention pond located about 100 metres away from the school’s playground.

“This is an extraordinary tragedy, which I believe requires an extraordinary response,” MacDougall said in a statement.

“We pride ourselves on the ethic of care we provide to every student … We must learn from this tragedy so it never happens again.”

The independent review will include “pertinent operations” in order to examine the circumstances surrounding the boy’s death, he added.

In his own statement, Saskatchewan Advocate for Children and Youth Corey O’Soup extended condolences to the family of the child.

“It is important that parents and children continue to have comfort in knowing that our schools are a place for children and youth to learn and grow,” he said.

“It is critical to ensure that we know what happened in this case.”

O’Soup said the investigation would look into the context of services being provided to Elmmi, and inform the board on any gaps in policies, procedures or practice.

His team could recommend policy fixes as part of their legislated mandate on behalf of the province.