On Tuesday, November 22, the OCDSB Board of Trustees held a special meeting to discuss a motion regarding mandatory mask use for students and staff. The meeting was attended by over 150 members of the public, with many more watching online. Unfortunately, after repeated heckling, disruption, and outbursts by the audience there were concerns about the safety of everyone present. The meeting shifted to a virtual format and continued until 10:30 p.m. At that time, it was decided to adjourn the meeting and continue on another day. In the interest of safety, the continuation meeting will be held virtually on November 24, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. Anyone interested will be able to watch the meeting online.
Public meetings are an important part of the democratic process and in order to be successful, all participants must feel respected by and be respectful of other participants. Unfortunately, that was not the case on Tuesday evening and that is something that we all need to reflect upon.
Over the past two years, this community has experienced considerable uncertainty, adversity, and change. People are feeling passionate, frustrated, anxious, and angry about a range of issues. As a result, we have seen more polarization on issues and a reduced capacity to listen to and learn from each other.
Our commitment to promoting a culture of caring in our schools and broader community remains unchanged. This is built on a foundation of respect and responsibility to one another and appreciation that we all care deeply about the education of children.