An Ontario parent suspended from serving on her local high school council for remarks about land acknowledgements is legally challenging the school board’s decision.
The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) said it sent the letter on behalf of Catherine Kronas, who served on the school council of Ancaster High Secondary School, which is part of the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) in Ontario.
Kronas was re-elected to serve on the council in October 2024.
At an April 9 school council meeting, Kronas said she wanted to record her “respectful objection” to land acknowledgements in the meeting minutes, the JCCF said.
In a letter from the school board dated May 22, Kronas was advised that her participation in school council was “paused” while the board reviewed allegations she had “engaged in conduct that has caused harm” during the April 9 meeting.
HWDSB said that the conduct was “not in compliance” with its Code of Conduct policy. The letter said the behaviour standards applied to all community members while on school property.
Kronas was directed not to attend school council meetings either in person or virtually.
JCFF said the school board did not indicate to Kronas what conduct from the meeting was in question, and the decision to pause her involvement with the school council was in violation of administrative procedures and a violation of Kronas’s right to freedom of expression.
Kronas said the board’s letter surprised her.
“I was taken aback by the Board’s decision to suspend me from the School Council after delivering a respectful objection, especially given assurances made at a previous council meeting and outlined in the Council bylaws that open dialogue and diverse perspectives are welcomed,” Kronas said.
She said the Board was sending a “troubling message” that “respectful disagreement” may result in disciplinary action.
The Epoch Times contacted HWDSB for comment but did not hear back by publication time.
In a letter to the school board, JCFF said that the decision to prevent Kronas from attending meetings was “unconstitutional and contrary to administrative law principles of procedural fairness.”
JCFF said that Kronas should be reinstated “immediately” and allowed to attend the June 4 meeting.
The letter also notes that the board did not give her a chance to respond to allegations of improper conduct.
