Strait school board member barred from meetings

The vice-chair of the Strait Regional School Board has been barred from committee meetings after clashing with the board chair and superintendent at a tense meeting Wednesday night.

Tensions rose early as board members debated a motion to end two sexual-health programs developed by the Antigonish Women's Resource Centre. It was eventually rejected 7-3.

Board chair Henry Van Berkle struggled to maintain order as the meeting continued and superintendent Phonse Gillis gave his monthly report.

Vice-chair Mike Brown interrupted both men several times, and let fly with a barrage of questions for Gillis, including why he doesn't present written reports and how many schools he has visited.

Van Berkle ruled Brown out of order.

"Mike Brown just jumped up and said, 'This is bullshit' and stormed out," said Frank MacDonald, with the Inverness Oran newspaper.

Van Berkle said Brown will be welcomed back to committee meetings after he apologizes for using foul language and walking out.

The school board doesn't have the power to stop Brown from attending regular monthly meetings.

Last fall, Education Minister Karen Casey reprimanded the board and ordered its code of ethics beamended to saythatmembers are required to "show respect for others."