Montebello : Board Wants Smoking Ban for All School Buildings

The Montebello Unified School District Board of Education has asked administrators to develop a policy that would ban smoking in all district-owned buildings and vehicles.

According to a memo written by Supt. John P. Cook, administrators and board members have received complaints from employees worried about the dangers of secondhand smoke. The complaints have continued despite efforts to limit employee smoking to specific time periods and to specific locations, the memo said.

Board member Darrell Heacock said a more strict smoking policy is needed “if the district is to set a good example for children. It seems to me that, given the adverse effects, we need to do all we can to discourage smoking.”

Once a new policy is developed, it still would have to be approved by the board.