MONTREAL — The Lester B. Pearson School Board, located in the Montreal area, has announced that it is no longer facing legal action related to a controversial situation involving the sale of student artwork. This case began in March 2024, when ten parents from the area filed a lawsuit against the board and a teacher, identified as Mario Perron, over allegations that their children's artwork intended for class assignments was being sold online without their consent.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the school board confirmed it had thoroughly investigated the allegations made against Perron. The investigation concluded that while the teacher did make an error, he acted in good faith. As a result, the board has imposed a disciplinary action against him. The issue arose when Perron uploaded images of the students' art to a website as part of an educational exercise focused on photo editing techniques. Unfortunately, the teacher inadvertently activated a marketing template on this website, which resulted in price tags being displayed alongside the students' artwork.

The Lester B. Pearson School Board emphasized that the teacher's intention was never to sell the students' drawings. The board verified with the website that none of the student artwork had been sold, and importantly, Perron did not receive any financial compensation from the online platform. This clarification was crucial in alleviating the concerns expressed by the parents involved in the lawsuit.

The parents, who initially sought a significant amount in damages—$155,000 each, in addition to punitive damages and an apology from Westwood Junior High School—have since retracted their lawsuit. Their decision to drop the legal action signals a resolution to the matter, which had garnered considerable attention and concern within the community.

This outcome highlights the importance of clear communication and the need for educators to navigate the digital landscape carefully, especially when it involves student work. The board's investigation not only addressed the immediate concerns of the parents but also served as a crucial reminder regarding best practices in handling student content online.

The situation, which had raised alarm among parents and school officials alike, seems to have reached a satisfactory conclusion for all parties involved. The Lester B. Pearson School Board aims to move forward from this incident, ensuring that all educational activities respect the rights and intentions of students and their families.