GARDEN GROVE : District Smoking Ban Tentatively OKd
The Garden Grove Unified School District has given preliminary approval to a policy that will prohibit use of all tobacco products on district property.
The board voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt the policy, under which use of tobacco will be prohibited during school hours. The policy is tentatively set to begin Feb. 1.
Six months after that, tobacco use will be prohibited around the clock at all district facilities except when buildings are used for bingo games. Under the policy, tobacco use on school property and in district vehicles will be banned starting June 30, 1996.
The district must adopt the policy to fulfill its part of an agreement with the state, under which the district has received almost $800,000 since 1989 to discourage the use of tobacco.
Originally, the district proposal called for the first phase of the policy to go into effect immediately, but board members instructed the staff to hold off to give smokers a chance to get used to the change.
“It’s obvious in this day and age that we can’t fight this anymore,” said board member Frank Noe, a former smoker. “We all know it’s not good for our health.”
The board will consider formal adoption of the policy Nov. 3.
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