Regaining the Trust & Confidence of the Community

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Throughout the 2022-23 Fall & Spring terms, students at Oakville Trafalgar High School and other HDSB schools became part of an international media spectacle - testing the limits of "diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI)" and "identity & expression" in a school environment. The rights of parents and students to ask questions, voice concerns and be engaged in conversations that affect students' interests and well-being were largely ignored. The situation remains, as yet, unresolved and further action is required.

The HDSB’s reputation and relationship with the parent community has been severely damaged. Parents are now insisting on accountability measures for education administrators and personnel who allowed the situation to unfold and escalate from September 2022 onwards.  

Parents have established a series of steps the HDSB must take, in conjunction with educational authorities, to help facilitate a productive path forward. 

• Professionalism Policy: immediate implementation of a valid Professionalism Policy for Staff that effectively prevents sexually inappropriate attire and behaviour.

• Foundational Training: mandatory enrollment of HDSB Director, Superintendents and Trustees in foundational training in Democratic Principles and Parent Engagement, to be completed by September 2023. 

• Accountability Statement: publicly acknowledge and apologize to HDSB families for failing to manage the teacher situation and for the damage inflicted on students. Commit to surveying HDSB parents to understand how the Board can build better relationships with families. Results, recommendations and implementation plan to be shared publicly and fully implemented by June 2024.

• Disclosure of “DEI” Initiatives: through the delivery of a detailed annual “DEI” plan to parents. The Board must commit to full transparency on all initiatives presented under the “diversity, equity & inclusion” (DEI) banner. 

• Leadership Review: under the supervision of the Ministry of Education, conduct a leadership review at the Director and Superintendent level.

• Teacher Suspension: suspend the teaching license of K. Lemieux for a minimum period of two years. Reinstatement of teaching license to be conditional on passing a clinical assessment of mental health and adhering to a Professionalism Policy. 

• OCT Investigation: make public the status and findings from the Ontario College of Teacher’s investigation into the conduct of  K. Lemieux, including the OTHS Vaping incident that was reported. This should include, but not be limited to, the number of parent complaints received along with a full accounting of the action OCT has taken on these complaints, including any referrals to the College’s Disciplinary Committee. 

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