PC education critic Barry Petten is raising concerns about safety in the K-12 school system following allegations of sexual assault against a teacher and coach.

Thirty-two-year-old Markus Hicks was arrested on Wednesday and appeared in court Thursday following a search of his Paradise home.

Petten says it is concerning to hear of the allegations against Hicks.

He points to another serious incident that occurred in the spring of this year at Prince of Wales Collegiate in St. John’s, in which a student was left with serious injuries following an attack on school grounds. Attempted murder charges have been laid in that case.

Petten asks a simple question: Are children safe? He wonders if a safety audit was done in the aftermath of the PWC attack, adding that the school district’s safe and caring schools policy hasn’t been updated in a decade.

Petten is questioning whether the safety of students is being properly captured through education initiatives and policies, and is asking what assurances parents can be given about their children’s safety.