Oakville school’s teacher dress code controversy expected to take centre stage at Halton board meeting

Halton families will learn Wednesday what a dress code for teachers could look like, as the board continues to come under pressure from both parents and the province to address the controversy over an educator who wears large prosthetic breasts.

At a meeting Wednesday night, Director of Education Curtis Ennis is to provide an interim update on the upcoming professionalism policy, including standards of dress, ordered by a majority of trustees who pushed reluctant administrators to act amid the ongoing uproar at Oakville Trafalgar High School that began last September.

The full policy is expected by March 1.

Lawyer Rishi Bandhu, who represents a small group of parents threatening to pursue legal action, is the father of a Grade 9 student at Oakville Trafalgar and hopes to be among the delegates at the meeting.

I am 100 per cent supportive of transgender students and teachers at any institution," he told the Star. I just believe they need to dress appropriately and the board needs to be responsive to the concerns of parents and not ignore them."

He said we can't dictate what the board does at the end of the day: They are the employer. But we do have a legal voice, and we want to make sure that is exercised."

Images of the shop teacher wearing tight tops, revealing the large breasts and protruding nipples, have garnered international headlines and prompted protests as well as threats of violence at the high school.

Ennis and other senior administrators had insisted they could not bring in a dress code for educators, citing equity and human rights issues.

But families, fed up with the disruption, have noted that students have to abide by one, and Education Minister Stephen Lecce even weighed in, saying parents have expressed profound concern with the management of this issue" and that he expected the Halton District School Board to set and enforce professional standards.

In an unusual move, the five people who have requested to delegate at Wednesday's board meeting were asked to provide copies of their speech in advance so the chair and vice-chair could make sure no one identifies individuals.

A spokesperson said the board has done this in the past when a number of speakers were expected.

Confirming in advance that delegations are in accordance with the delegations procedure will help ensure that the meeting proceeds without interruption," said Heather Francey.

It's unclear how many parents are planning to attend the board meeting, where Ennis will provide a verbal update.

Meanwhile, a freedom-of-information request filed by the Star revealed that the province's Ministry of Education had, in an unusual move, emailed Ennis on at least three occasions since last fall to discuss the controversy.

In September, Deputy Minister Nancy Naylor wrote saying sorry to interrupt your weekend, but there is some attention on the issue of your tech teacher who is teaching with arguably inappropriate appearance."

Naylor went on to say that the question I'm getting is whether this issue has been referred to (the Ontario College of Teachers) or whether the board is addressing it in other ways."

Lecce later asked the college to provide advice on the matter, which it ultimately said the board already had the authority to address.

The ministry also received dozens of complaints about the issue.

However, sources have told the Star that the ministry has no plans at this point to send in an adviser or supervisor to oversee the board.

In an email to the Star, Ennis wrote that the Halton board is committed to establishing and maintaining a safe, caring, inclusive, equitable and welcoming learning and working environment for all students and staff. Our commitment to human rights remains rooted in our core values and commitment to each and every student and staff who identifies as a member of an underserved and under-represented group."

Oakville mom Celina Close initially requested to delegate at Wednesday's meeting, but refused after learning she would need to provide talking points in advance. She has addressed trustees and staff in the past, and said it was an option to provide material ahead of time.

It's either going to be my right to speak freely and voice my concerns uncensored, or not," Close told the Star. I don't think it's exercising my right to delegate if it has to be reviewed."

It's once again a display of the board not listening to parents and providing a channel for open communication for parents to voice concerns or have any questions answered," said Close, whose son is in Grade 11 at Oakville Trafalgar High School.

Still, she plans on attending the meeting and hopes to hear that the board is committed to a dress code policy for staff that, at a minimum," adheres to the dress code for students, which prohibits clothing that makes visible genitals and nipples.

Isabel Teotonio is a Toronto-based reporter covering education for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @Izzy74

Kristin Rushowy is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontario politics for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @krushowy

Michele Henry is a Toronto-based reporter for the Star, writing health and education stories. Follow her on Twitter: @michelehenry