By NICOLE CARTRETTE
Staff Writer

Smoking at schools and school-sponsored events may soon become a thing of the past.

State legislation passed recently (S1068) calls for local school boards to implement the tobacco-free schools policy no later than Aug. 1, 2008. The legislation incorporates federal law passed in 1994 (Pro Children Act) that tightens restrictions on tobacco use in schools and at school functions.
“This is the first system I have worked for in 10 years that was not tobacco free,” Whiteville City Schools Superintendent Randall Shaver said Monday.

“We want to honor our local traditions,” he said, but pointed out that healthy schools are tobacco-free.

Shaver is waiting on word from the school association’s legal division regarding the exact requirements of the legislation passed, but said it is his understanding the law essentially makes schools and sponsored events smoke-free.
Columbus County Schools Superintendent Dan Strickland said currently there is a no-tobacco policy for students and the buildings are tobacco-free. There are designated outside locations for smoking, he said. The legislation would abolish the designated areas.

“Most (other) schools don’t have those,” he said, and pointed out the law means no tobacco at “every” school sponsored activity, football games and basketball games “period.”

One portion of the bill prohibits “at all times the use of any tobacco product by any person in school buildings, in school facilities, on school campuses, and in or on any other school property owned or operated by the local school administrative unit” and “in enclosed school buildings during regular school hours,” and mentions persons attending a school sponsored event “when in the presence of students or school personnel or in an area where smoking is otherwise prohibited by law.”

In addition, the law does not limit boards’ abilities to post more strict policies. “I’m not sure what the school board will do,” Shaver said, but added that it would be discussed prior to the August 2008 deadline.

Strickland said the county school board would also work on the policy before the 2008 school year.
State legislation requires the boards to adopt a written policy that includes:

(1) Adequate notice to students, parents, the public and school personnel of the policy.

(2) Posting of signs regarding prohibiting at all times the use of tobacco products by anyone in and on school property.

(3) Requirements that school personnel enforce the policy.