WRDSB meeting discusses low attendance on day of progress flag raising

During question period at a Waterloo Region District School Board meeting Monday, there was discussion about a decrease in attendance on June 1, the day schools across the board raised progress pride flags for the month.

Trustee Cindy Watson said she heard about this from parents, and she asked “what the [attendance] numbers are and has [the board] reached out to those parents about any concerns or issues they might have.”

Associate Director Scott Miller responded by saying there was no single reason why attendance may have decreased.

“It would be really difficult to substantiate student absences and anything connected to June 1, specifically in relation to the rising of the progress pride flag. We have many things right now going in our schools, a number of our secondary schools are running proms right now, which often kids are absent for those days.”

Miller added that the next day was also a Professional Development day, and many families take their children out of school to begin their long weekends early.

Trustee Mike Ramsay also followed up with questions regarding the religious accommodation program and competing rights.

“Are you suggesting then that a parent does not have the right to withdraw their children from a classroom simply because material is not being incorporated into the curriculum? And if we have ever paused to think about some of things that we are doing and whether or not it’s positive when we have a significant part of our communities that are withdrawing their kids from schools on certain days. How do we balance those things in terms of the competing rights?”

Miller said the board recognizes many religious festivals and practices while working to highlight inclusive practices.

“We acknowledge and recognize the diversity and lived experiences of our students,” said Miller. “We also recognize the importance of celebrating opportunities for our students to feel a sense of belonging and connection.”

Watson also voiced concerns from parents about presentations about SHORE Centre, without informing parents beforehand.

Again, Miller spoke to this.

“We continue to follow the direction from the Minister of Education. We uphold the human rights code and ensure that all of our students feel a sense of belonging in our schools.”