Halifax schools change head lice policy

The largest school board in the provincehas changed its policy on head lice.

Halifax Regional School Board says children with nits in their hair can now stay in class.

Spokesperson Doug Hadley said the board found students were missing too much school.

"There's no longer a requirement for a child to be lice or nit free before they return to school. Basically they need to receive treatment, and then they can return," said Hadley.

If a check turns up living lice, the child will still be sent home until the bugs have been treated.

Joan Mikkelsen, a school public health nurse, said two chemical shampoos is enough treatment and that having nits at school shouldn't mean more cases.

"People were very diligent, we don't like bugs, so they tried to remove all the nits. But there's no science to say that you need to do that," said Mikkelsen.

The board said the policy will be reviewed every three years.