Halton school board developing policy on staff dress and decorum

The Halton District School Board (HDSB) says the community will have its say as the school develops a policy that will include staff dress and decorum.

Director of Education for the HDSB, Curtis Ennis says a drafted policy on professionalism will include the voices of families following the controversy surrounding the attire of an Oakville high school teacher.

READ MORE: Parents threaten lawsuit over issues with Oakville teacher’s attire

“It gives parents the opportunity and schools and school communities to share with us their thoughts including dress and decorum,” Ennis said.

Ennis says the input will be delivered primarily through surveys sent to parents, parent council, students, and human rights advocates shortly. Prior to a consultation, the policy will be presented to school board trustees Wednesday night.

A draft that says “the HDSB code of conduct states that it is the responsibility of staff to provide students with a ‘safe, caring, equitable and inclusive learning environment free from distractions,'”

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The board faces pressure to address the issue amid controversy after a shop teacher at Oakville Trafalgar high school made international headlines last year for wearing large prosthetic breasts. The Halton board initially supported the teacher citing potential discrimination. This was followed by protests and numerous bomb threats since September.

READ MORE: Oakville Trafalgar High School lifts lockdown after bomb threat

“I want to see this come to an end so the kids can get back to learning and focusing on their academics and not on the distractions, on threats, and frankly on needless obstacles to learning,” Education minister Stephen Lecce believes professional standards should include a dress code but didn’t say if the province would take action if common ground isn’t met.

READ MORE: Oakville Trafalgar High School receives 3rd bomb threat in 3 weeks

Opposition leaders say school boards should be allowed to develop the policy before any critiques. Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles says, “I think that’s really important because school board trustees are a very important role. Their job is to bring forward the voices of the community members, of staff, of students…”

The HDSB trustee meeting will take place Wednesday at 7 p.m.