Halton school board includes community on staff dress, decorum policy

The Halton District School Board (HDSB) held a trustee meeting last night where parents gathered to voice their concerns regarding the new professionalism policy.

Director of Education for the HDSB, Curtis Ennis says a drafted policy on professionalism will include the voices of families.

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

This comes after a shop teacher at Oakville Trafalgar High School made international headlines last year for wearing large prosthetic breasts.

READ MORE: Halton school board developing policy on staff dress and decorum

Frustrated parents waiting outside of the meeting told CHCH News they have been calling on the board for months to impose a dress code on its employees.

The school board initially supported the teacher citing potential discrimination. This was followed by protests and numerous bomb threats since September.

However, a draft professionalism policy presented to trustees contained no details of dress for teachers last night.

“The problem with what’s been put out so far is it’s very general, there’s no detail, we need specifics and we need them quickly,” said one parent.

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

The delegates were asking the board to listen to parents and the community.

Ennis says they are drawing on policies from the Ontario College of Teachers, the Education Act and supreme court decisions.

The hope is that by coming through old policies, they can create a new procedure that directs schools on how to enforce professional standards when it comes to dress.

The board is consulting with stakeholders with a survey mailed out last week and students, staff, parents and guardians are being invited to complete an online feedback survey.

The survey will close on March 12.

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