Edison school board member gets fired up over news report

Stephen Berry recently called for defunding Erie County’s health department; claims local media 'maligns' him

MILAN — After Tuesday’s Stay Tuned Sandusky report on Edison school board member Stephen Berry’s call to defund the Erie County Health Department, Berry responded — in a series of text messages questioning the coverage.

Berry objected to the report, calling it “a hit piece” and accusing the media of bias in favor of public health officials. But in the messages that followed, he did not specify factual inaccuracies or respond directly to the questions posed by Stay Tuned Sandusky and earlier questions sent to him from the Sandusky Register.

On Tuesday, county health Commissioner Pete Schade pushed back on Berry’s call for defunding public health, calling his comments nonsensical. He said public health spending is a total investment in the community and it provides a tremendous return on that investment.

The Register is preparing report more about Berry and his time on the school boar, according to sources.

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Edison board member under fire, fires back

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Berry was asked about the concerns Schade raised, and about Schade’s question if Berry could offer any detail to his proposal, or how he would replace and pay for the services the health department provides in the community. At Milan Schools, the health department provides school nursing services, among other services.