THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 11, 1994 TAG: 9410110278
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: MOYOCK LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
Smoking in the school restroom may once have meant a few days of detention if you were caught. In the future, it may also cost you a $1,000 fine.
The Currituck County Board of Education on Monday discussed a broad policy on smoke-free schools that would prohibit tobacco products on campus and mean stiff penalties for violators.
``It's not that popular here in northeastern North Carolina, but even those of us who've sinned have seen it coming,'' said Currituck Schools Superintendent W.R. ``Ronnie'' Capps, himself a smoker.
The discussion was part of the School Board's regular monthly meeting held at Moyock Elementary School and attended by about 50 people.
The proposed policy is part of Congress' Goals 2000: Educate America Act and bans smoking within educational facilities that receive federal funding. These would include public schools, library services, federally funded health care or day care programs and early childhood education programs such as Head Start.
An exception would be outdoor athletic competitions, such as football games. School officialsbelieve enforcement there would place an excessive burden on personnel.
The new rule, if adopted by the five-member board, would take effect Dec. 1.
Current policy allows each of Currituck County's six schools to create its own rules on tobacco use. Most campuses are smoke-free except in designated areas.
The provision under consideration would prohibit smoking countywide by students, employees or visitors in buildings owned, leased or contracted by the schools.
School officials could designate a time and area for employees to smoke if the area is not visible to students.
The area also could not be ``generally visible to students.''
Its goal is to provide role models and a healthier learning and working environment for students and staff.
Tobacco products would include cigarettes, pipes, chewing tobacco, snuff or other items that contain or resemble these products. Smoking, chewing and ``dipping'' would all fall under the ban.
Punishment for each violation could include a $1,000 fine and may even result in the loss of some federal funding.
Action on the proposed smoke-free policy is expected at the next School Board meeting on Nov. 14.
KEYWORDS: CURRITUCK COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
by CNB