School district bans e-cigarettes

KAMLOOPS – Without much discussion the school district board easily passed an amendment to the smoke-free policy banning e-cigarettes and related items on school grounds.

Staff recognized the need to change the policy, which is intended to keep the school grounds smoke-free, to include electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) based on advice from health agencies.

“They’re not recommending the use of those products,” Assistant Superintendent Karl de Bruijn said last month. “They’re not safe and some have addictive qualities.”

Administration heard from principals who noticed some increase in the use but de Bruijn called the changes mostly proactive.

At the board meeting Monday Trustee Gerald Watson says the amendments, which include the addition of e-cigarettes and associated paraphernalia, passed unanimously.

“There was not a lot of discussion, though the chair did… provide information on the American versions,” Watson says, adding the amendments are intended to keep the students safer. “We’re trying to keep the air quality good in our schools for the kids.”

The policy changes feature new wording to include electronic smoking products in addition to tobacco products as well as a change to include ‘The board's goal is to assist in the creation of a society that is smoke-free and free from electronic smoking products’ instead of simpler term, ‘creation of a smoke-free society.’

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