EXCLUSIVE: Witnesses describe culture of fear at York Region school
Witnesses allege intimidation, religious discrimination, student safety failures, and years of inaction by the York Region District School Board.
A detailed brief sent to Ontario’s Ministry of Education paints a picture of a school where, according to multiple witnesses, staff feared retaliation, parents felt intimidated, children developed anxiety around the principal, and repeated complaints to senior administrators went unanswered.
Earlier this week, Juno News revealed allegations that Hartman Public School principal Saira Salman involved herself in child welfare matters of one of her students while both her school York Region principal and Chair of the York Region Children’s Aid Society.
A brief outlining those allegations has since been submitted to the ministry, calling for an independent investigation into Salman’s conduct.
Supporting the submission are 12 witness testimonies from parents, caregivers, and staff who describe recurring patterns of intimidation, retaliation, student safety concerns, religious favouritism, and what several witnesses characterized as a culture of fear.
