An Ontario school board has reversed its decision to suspend a parent serving on a local high school council because of remarks she made about land acknowledgments.
Catherine Kronas was suspended from her position on the Ancaster High Secondary School council after she requested her “respectful objection” to land acknowledgements be recorded at an April 9 school council meeting, according to the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF).
In her reasoning for the objection, Kronas had said that having a land acknowledgment during school council meetings “undermines the democratic process and constitutes a form of compelled speech,” saying there was no existing school board policy mandating its inclusion.
“In my opinion, the sentiments implied by the land acknowledgment, are political in nature, highly controversial, and therefore divisive and inappropriate within a government institution,” she said in her remarks.
The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) informed Kronas soon after that it had paused her participation on the council while it reviewed allegations that she had engaged in “conduct that has caused harm.” The school board also said Kronas’ conduct was “not in compliance” with its Code of Conduct policy.
JCCF said that the board’s Human Rights Office has now informed Kronas that her statement did not breach its Code of Conduct and she is no longer suspended from the council.
The school board told Kronas in a July 16 letter that it had received complaints from parents and members of the public about her conduct at the April 9 meeting.
“The parents and community members who brought forward their concerns shared that they have experienced significant harm, which continues to create a concern around the school council climate,” said the letter signed by HWDSB Human Rights Office representative Yohana Otite.
The letter also said that Kronas has a right to express her opinion but that it has a “responsibility” to “interrupt behaviour that may be contrary to the Code of Conduct.”
“HWDSB will continue the practice of opening meetings with the Land Acknowledgement as this aligns with the Board’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation,” the letter said.
Kronas said while the decision proves she did not violate the code, the board failed to follow the proper conflict resolution processes.
“The Board chose not to respect the council’s bylaws and conflict resolution process, and continues to impose a land acknowledgment,” she said in a statement
She said school councils “must be free” to determine meeting content.
“Denying that freedom undermines the autonomy of parent-led governance,” Kronos said.
JCCF had previously sent a letter to the board on behalf of Kronas following her suspension. It said that preventing her from attending meetings was “unconstitutional and contrary to administrative law principles of procedural fairness.”
The letter said she should be reinstated immediately. It also noted that the board did not give Kronas a chance to respond to allegations of improper conduct.
At the time, Kronos said the board was sending a “troubling message” that “respectful disagreement” could result in disciplinary action.
The Epoch Times contacted the school board for comment on its decision, but did not hear back by publication time.
The JCCF said there are no further legal proceedings expected, and the matter is considered closed.
