MISSION VIEJO : Schools Plan to Ban Smoking at Games

Trustees of the Saddleback Valley Unified School District this week unanimously agreed to draft a policy that would ban smoking during athletic events on school campuses.

The policy, which will be reviewed by the board next month and could receive final approval in January, represents a step toward a complete, districtwide ban on smoking by 1996, Supt. Peter A. Hartman said.

Current district policy allows for smoking by teachers, school employees and adult visitors in building areas that have been specifically designated for smoking.

“People just assume that even though we have designated indoor smoking areas that it’s all right to smoke anywhere outside,” Hartman said. “When people leave cigarette butts on the ground after a football or baseball game, it doesn’t set a very good example for our kids.”

If the proposed policy is approved by the board, the district will post signs throughout campuses and playing fields asking employees and visitors to comply with the smoking ban.

Announcements also would be made over the public address system and in sports programs.

The policy would apply not only to school athletic events but also to events organized by outside athletic organizations to take place on school grounds.

“We’re not trying to be punitive,” Hartman said. “We’re just trying to be educational and move toward a smoke-free environment.”