Parent Governance Dispute Deepens as WRDSB Faces Transparency Concerns
A parent governance dispute has escalated at the Waterloo Region District School Board. The board attempted to remove a parent’s objection to land acknowledgements from official Parent Involvement Committee minutes. This marks the second Ontario case where a board intervened in parent-led governance to suppress a recorded disagreement.
In September, parent member Cristina Bairos Fernandes raised a procedural objection to opening meetings with a land acknowledgement. She had previously removed land acknowledgements from parent council meetings. The committee chair agreed to “note” the objection. However, director Scott Miller quickly intervened and stated that the minutes would not include it.
He argued that the board’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation guided its position. He also referenced a recent Ministry of Education decision involving the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board and the Survivors’ Flag.
Parents Push Back Against Omitted Records
At the November meeting, the committee voted to record the objections but leave out Miller’s interference. Some parents found this decision confusing. Fernandes insisted the exchange occurred and questioned why the committee would erase part of the record. Parent member Geoff Horseman also urged the committee to include the interference to ensure accuracy.
Another Ontario case showed a similar pattern. Hamilton-Wentworth parent Catherine Kronas objected to land acknowledgements at her parent council meeting. Instead of recording her concerns, the board suspended her. Legal intervention later reinstated her rights.
Concerns Over Influence and Parent Representation
Parents in both districts argue that land acknowledgements function as political speech in government spaces. They believe their concerns deserve fair documentation. Fernandes added that the board cancelled an information night parents had long requested. She warned that PIC feels more like an extension of the board than a representative voice.
The Ministry of Education has created new Student and Family Support Offices. However, Horseman remains skeptical and believes real change will happen only when parents have more choice in how they direct education funding.
