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4 4 5 Continued from page 1 nya Rocha). "With the lack of com- = munication with both the school and the school § board, we have secured a a lawyer and are going to tinue to pursue the le- 1 hursday, December 15, 2022 | ple, and another is sched- uled for January. As the threat of violence esca- lates — there pave been several bom! threats made to ors over the past three mo membership is ms ing daily, said Close. "There's definitely a lot of anxiety about the well- being of the children, that's a very real feeling. There's frustration with the lack of open and trans- parent communication. There's anger at the lack of transparency and work BIG GIG to make this a better and safe situation for the chil- dren. I would say overall, type of education system that we're looking to send our kids to.’ Since September, the board has stood by its offi- cial statement in response to the teacher's attire, which included large pros- thetic breasts. It reads, in part, that the board "is committed fo establishing and m: ining a safe, caring, aust, equita- ble and welcoming | Tearn- ing and working ment for all students ar and staff.” "We strive to promote 2 a positive learning en ment in schools consistent with the values of the school board and to ensure a safe and inclusive learning and working environment for all students, staff and the community, regardless of UNLIMITED freedommobile.ca Oakville Smart Centre 261 Oak Walk Drive Oakville 289.291.3261 Walkers Line ington 905.635.0584 their race, age, ability, sex, gender identity, gender ex- pression, sexual orienta- tion, ethnicity, religion, cul- tural observance, socio-eco- mic circumstances, or body type/size.” Tv Freedom mobile ppleby Village 3505 Upper Middle Road 5111 New Street Burlington 289.427.5260 insidehalton.com MULTIPLE BOMB THREATS DIRECTED AT SCHOOL Graham Paine/ Metroland Several hundred gathered out front Oakville Trafalgar High School in late September to protest a transgender teacher's attire. Board chair Margo Shuttleworth said at a Sep- tember meeting questions related to the attire of the transgender teacher were human resources issues and trustees were restrict- “This is going to come back for these children; these children are going to remember this point of their education. It's just traumatic." - Celina Close ed in what they could say. In September, Ontario Education Minister Ste- phen Lecce got involved, requesting the Ontario Col- lege of Teachers review its professional conduct stan- The OCT has since re- leased its report to Lecce, confirmed the OCT's An- drew Fifield, deferring re- quests for more informa- tion to the educati istry, which has not re- sponded to requests for mment about the re- port's contents. According io «Heather Francey, HDSB's manager of com- munications, "the HDSB does not have an update from the OCT or the min- istry on this." In November, the board outlined the legal challeng- es it would face in institut- ing a staff dress code. Disillusioned with the board's closed _ stance, Close got involved in the parents’ group. "The Sentiment of this becoming normalized is in- furiating; the sentiment is that if we just leave this alone it's going to go away, it's going to die down. Nor- malizing that my child when a teacher is Ronin for a bomb is not normal,” said Close. "This is going to come back for these children; these children are going to remember this point of their education. It's just traumatic." HALTON CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended August 31, 2022 are available on the Board Website www.hcdsb.org Copies are also available upon request. M. Duarte Chair of the Board J. Klein Director of Education $B