Tobacco News

Dr. Ross Latona remembers when he first started smoking as a teenager. He knew he shouldn’t.
“Every time I would see a teacher smoking – it didn’t matter who it was, they were my role models, except for my parents – it reinforced that it wasn’t that bad,” he said.

Three years ago, he quit. And after seeing adults smoking at Pittston Area, where Latona, a chiropractor, is a school board member, he wants to completely ban smoking from the campus and make a healthier environment for students. Pittston Area is one of two districts in Luzerne County that allow adults to smoke on its property, but the school board is considering a complete ban. All the districts comply with state and federal laws that prohibit students from smoking on school property.

State, federal law

Two Pennsylvania acts directly address smoking and/or tobacco use on school property. The Clean Indoor Air Act and federal regulations only ban smoking inside school buildings or other enclosed areas.

Act 145 of 1997 prohibits tobacco use or possession in buildings, in school vehicles and on school property, and offenders can be prosecuted for a summary offense and assessed fines of $50 or less. Act 128 of 2000 allows school districts to establish designated areas where smoking is allowed on school property, but they must be at least 50 feet away from buildings, stadiums or bleachers.

Pittston policy

Pittston Area provided two policies, one for students, which was last revised in 1997, and the other for community members, which was adopted in 1995.

Students cannot have or use tobacco products and face suspension if they violate the policy. That includes in buildings, on the grounds, in vehicles, on the way to or from school and at school events not at Pittston Area, according to the policy and the student handbook.

The community policy states tobacco cannot be used in school buildings, in school vehicles, at district events or while representing the district. It does not address outdoor areas or designated smoking areas.

Superintendent George Cosgrove said each building has a designated area, usually near a loading dock and away from doors and the front of the building. But he admits enforcing the designated outdoor smoking areas is not a high priority.

“Not much, because honestly the buildings are the areas we are most concerned with,” he said.

Other local schools

Of the other 11 school districts in Luzerne County, only Wyoming Area allows adults to smoke in designated areas on campus.

Superintendent Raymond Bernardi said the areas are away from doors and students, and in his knowledge, smoking on campus or the idea of a total ban has not been raised.

Most districts have specific policies banning smoking by students, employees and visitors on school property. Wilkes-Barre Area provided a zero-tolerance policy for students, but does not have a written policy for adults, Superintendent Jeffrey T. Namey said. When the district does not have a specific policy, it follows state and federal law, he said, meaning that since Wilkes-Barre Area does not have designated smoking areas, it is a smoke-free district.

“I just don’t believe there should be smoking anywhere, because first of all, it’s an illegal activity for the underage kids, and we can’t have custodians walking around, teachers walking around, secretaries walking around smoking,” Namey said. “It sets a bad example for the kids.”

He acknowledged, however, that it can be difficult to enforce and he is aware employees smoke in the parking lot behind the administration building.

At Greater Nanticoke Area, a smoke-free district, Superintendent Tony Perrone said they try to enforce the policy and have cited adults, but it does not stop everyone.

“You know you can’t stop them all the time, but if they get caught they go to the magistrate,” he said. “Parents are very respectful, but sometimes they will smoke outside after basketball games, but they know they’re not supposed to.”

Initiating proposal

Latona brought up the idea of a smoking ban at Pittston Area School Board’s meeting in March and wanted the board to vote on it.

“I don’t want students to see their teachers, their role models, smoking,” he said. “You want to smoke at home, fine. You want to take a smoke break, fine. Just don’t smoke on school property.”

Latona sees only positives in enforcing a ban, including a cleaner campus and, if it encourages employees to quit smoking, lower health care costs and create fewer illnesses.

“I don’t hate smoking, I just don’t think the school is a place to smoke,” he said. “I can’t see how allowing them to smoke on property is going to help taxpayers or students.”

Carolyn Turner is a custodian who said she smokes near one of the back doors with some of her coworkers before starting their 3-to-6 p.m. shift.

“It wouldn’t really bother me much, because I’m only here three hours and I can just work and not think about it for three hours,” she said. “It’s their decision, but it doesn’t really matter to me.”

Considerations

Board President Mark Singer is concerned with the details and legal aspects of enforcing a district-wide ban. How would a ban be enforced? Would it include parents smoking in cars while picking up students? Would they create a hostile working environment for employees who smoke by making them leave campus?

Instead of acting quickly and passing a ban, Singer wants to work with the attorney, union and officials and look at all of the options before settling on a plan.

“As the president of the school board I want to make sure we are fair to our employees,” he said. “I want to make sure I’m fair to everybody. And I just think we need to look at things.”

Teacher assistant Nancy Jakuboski said she doesn’t smoke, but as long as smokers are respectful and not near the building or students, she doesn’t mind them being allowed to smoke on campus.

“It probably would be better if they didn’t smoke on the grounds for the kids’ sake, but I honestly thought they didn’t because I never see people smoking,” she said.

As for the unions, Pittston Area’s Federation of Teachers President Paul Reedy didn’t take an official stance, but said he wants to discuss it with school officials.

“I would hope that the district would sit down with the bargaining units to discuss such policy before it’s implemented,” he said.

By Erin Moody, Citizensvoice