A couple dozen students gathered outside of the public high school in Dresden Monday morning as part of a planned protest.
They were drawing attention to the actions of school officials in connection with an assault that took place at Lambton-Kent Composite School (LKCS) last week.
Several parents also joined the students who were protesting, including a family friend of the boy who was assaulted. She spoke to Blackburn News, but will not be identified in order to protect the identity of the victim and the accused in connection with the assault investigation.
"We're trying to make it known to the board that it wasn't right -- the principal didn't take our claims of bullying seriously and didn't do anything about them," said the woman. "The students were very supportive."
Lambton-Kent District School Board (LKDSB) Superintendent of Education Gary Girardi, who was also at LKCS during Monday's protest, said from the board's perspective, the protesters were peaceful and respectful.
"The only thing we asked students was that they not protest in the school because the majority of students were in class and we didn't want situations in the halls that would interfere with learning," said Girardi. "The protesters that were there were very polite and did it off school property, so it didn't interfere with classes -- that was appreciated."
Girardi disputed claims that the students involved in the protest would be suspended because of their participation. He said students who took part were being asked to obtain a late slip if they returned to class Monday.
Girardi also disputed claims that the students involved in the protest were intentionally locked out of the school, adding that the doors of the school are usually locked during school hours, but school officials made sure the main doors at the front of the school were open so that students could return to class if they wished to do so.
Protesters gather across the street from Lambton Kent Composite School. December 17, 2018. (Submitted photo)