Track meet exclusion has parents calling for new policy

A group of parents in Ancaster is asking the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board to come up with a new policy governing school activities.

That’s after some of their kids were told they couldn’t participate in a track meet run by the board during school hours, because a volunteer teacher wasn’t present. Teachers at some Ancaster schools such as Rousseau, Ancaster Senior Public and CH Bray couldn’t take part – but teachers from schools like Ancaster Meadows did attend, which meant their students could still compete.

Upset parents held their own meet so so their kids weren’t excluded from the experience. But they say the board needs to come up with standards so this doesn’t happen again.

Concerned parent Joanne Turnell: “Since it’s not clear across all activites, and then the school board is still running the events, it creates a sense of chaos for parents and children whose friends are participating and they’re not being allowed to. I think the focus of the school system should be about the children.”

The parents have now drafted a letter to the school board outlining their concerns. They are now making alternate plans for upcoming events like skating, which could also be affected.

Video: Evening News coverage: