Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPRDSB) has stated that it cannot comment on disciplinary actions taken against individuals.
This is in reference to an incident on Friday, March 3, when the school administration became aware of a concerning incident of Islamophobia at Courtice Secondary School, which occurred earlier in the day. Specifically, a student damaged a copy of the Quran, it said.
“While we cannot comment on individual disciplinary actions, the KPRDSB takes all allegations of discrimination seriously and is taking immediate steps to address this very serious incident,” said a statement posted on Thursday, March 9.
“As we shared in a note to families on Monday, March 6, 2023, the KPRDSB will not tolerate acts of hate towards persons or symbols of faith and are resolute in our commitment to the values of equity, diversity, inclusivity and the dignity and humanity of every individual. We are committed to repairing the harm that has been caused to the Muslim community as a result of this incident,” reiterated the statement.
It said KPR’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion staff are working with the school to continue the important focus on combatting Islamophobia in all its forms and ensuring KPR provides welcoming and inclusive spaces for everyone. “We also continue to work with the students and families who have been impacted by this incident to offer our support.”
Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster, too, has condemned the act (see below).
Next Steps
As part of next steps in response to this issue, KPRDSB has reached out to several community groups to work collaboratively, answer questions and concerns, and hear suggestions about how to repair the harm that this incident has caused, the statement said.
It thanked the counsel and support received, first from students and families at the school, including Courtice Secondary School’s Muslim Student Association, and from the following community groups:
- National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM)
- Islamic Centre of Oshawa
- Al Rayan Islamic Centre, and the
- Muslim Moms of Clarington
“We continue to reach out and welcome feedback from local community groups and associations as we focus on education with the whole school and continue to support the students and staff affected,” the statement added.
It was issued by Steve Russell, KPR board chairperson, and Jamila Maliha, superintendent of Education: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and superintendent for Courtice Secondary School.