Peel District School Board trustees overwhelmingly rejected a Brampton trustee's proposal to ban the use of cosmetic scents, perfumes, after shaves and colognes inside all school board properties. Brampton Trustee Steve Kavanagh introduced his motion during a regular board meeting May 27. It was rejected in a 10-2 vote.

Kavanagh said he has recently had some staff, parents and students complain about being sickened by the overpowering smell of some perfumes in schools and offices operated by the board.

To date, the board has relied on staff and students to be considerate of others when applying personal perfumes and a policy has not been implemented, he said. An internal communication and awareness campaign encourages staff to refrain from wearing strong scents or bringing articles in to the workplace that give off odours co-workers may have an aversion to smelling.

This approach has not worked, according to Kavanagh. He suggested the use of "vanity" fragrances pose a health risk to some students and staff.

"This board can either support vanity and keep the ban voluntary or it can support healthy schools," he told board members before the vote.

While most trustees understood and empathized with Kavanagh's intentions, they believe imposing a fragrance ban on the board's 150,000 students and more than 13,000 employees as well as visitors to board premises, would be impossible to enforce.

"I am concerned about how you implement this, because it is very far reaching," said Brampton Trustee Suzanne Nurse.

She suggested taking a renewed and more "firm" approach in encouraging students and staff to voluntarily curb the use of perfumes and colognes.

"I don't like putting policies in place I don't believe we can control," said Mississauga Trustee Ruth Thompson. "And I don't think we can control this one."

Kavanagh noted the board has had similar debate about peanut bans in schools to protect staff and students with peanut allergies.

Board officials noted the board does not have a peanut "ban" in schools. However, there is an allergy policy that encourages students and staff to refrain from bringing in food that could cause schoolmates or coworkers an allergic reaction. Kavanagh and Mississauga Trustee Rick Williams were the only board members to vote for a fragrance ban.