Allow service dog into boy’s classroom, Catholic board told

WATERLOO REGION — Supporters rallied Monday to persuade the Catholic school board to let a boy bring his service dog into his classroom, to help with his autism.

Craig Fee, father of Kenner Fee, has taken the board to Ontario’s human rights tribunal.

He says Kenner would be significantly calmed by having his black Labrador Ivy in class. His school, St. Kateri Catholic Elementary School in Kitchener, has balked.

About a dozen people attended the rally outside the Waterloo Catholic District School Board in Kitchener. They brought placards and three service dogs.

“The community stands behind the Fee family,” said protester Jolene Knott, who knows the family.

She said letting the trained service dog into the classroom would help Kenner “be his best self.”

Kenner, 8, is the son of elected Catholic trustee Amy Fee. She has declared a conflict of interest at the board.

Mike Ladano knows the Fee family and attended the rally to show solidarity “for people who have service dogs or need service dogs.”

“I realize that the wheels of bureaucracy move slowly, but it does seem that this is a long, long struggle for the family,” he said.

“It seems like maybe a little bit more empathy could go into the decision-making process.”

Ontario’s human rights code does not compel schools to accept service dogs, partly to avoid violating the rights of students and staff who are allergic or afraid of dogs. Schools are expected to find ways to accommodate competing rights.

Knott is not persuaded the Catholic board has tried hard enough to do that.

“There’s always a resolution and a solution to have everybody’s needs being met,” she said.

It’s not the first time the board has come under fire for balking at a service dog. A different family has been allowed to bring a service dog to a different school without asking for the dog to be in the classroom.

The tribunal hearing resumes in June.