School trustees unshakable on HPV (updated)

Silence thundered through tonight's meeting of the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board when trustee Lindsay Liske pleaded for one of the five trustees who voted last month against allowing the HPV vaccine in local schools to ask for a recon

After Liske asked Regis O'Connor, Kathleen Rosilius, Grace Tridico, Gerald Beerkens and Laurie Aceti to move for a reconsideration, not a sound was heard.

Under parliamentary procedure and the school board's bylaws, Liske needed at least one trustee who orginally voted against the vaccine to open the door for a new board debate on the issue.

But he found no takers.

Trustee John Caputo served notice that, at the board's next regular meeting, he will ask that parents of all Grade 8 girls be surveyed to determine their position on the vaccine.

Caputo also wants to hear the views of parent councils on the issue.

If his motion is approved, the survey would be completed by the end of February, 2008.

The findings would be presented to the school board sometime in March.

Even though the board refuses to allow Algoma Public Health to administer the Gardasil vaccine in its schools, it agreed tonight to allow an approved information package to be distributed.

Board Chair Marchy Bruni apologized tonight to parent Darla Diotte for the board's failure to consult earlier with parent councils about the vaccine.

Bruni said it was felt there wasn't sufficient time for such consultations, but described that decision as an "oversight."

"Shame on you," said Diotte, referring to the cost she said some parents will face having the vaccine administered by a physician.

Randy Schuran, regional parent council chair, told the board that he has received 76 e-mails and 26 phone calls about the HPV decision.

Only one supported the board's decision, Schuran said.