Kamloops This Week
Smoking and vaping are under the microscope as the Kamloops-Thompson board of education looks at revising its policy that bans both activities on school property.
School district secretary-treasurer Kelvin Stretch was scheduled to present a notice of motion at the Monday, Jan. 29, school board meeting to adopt the revised policy.
READ MORE: B.C. moves to restrict e-cigarettes (Mar. 5, 2015)
Trustees will vote on adopting the policy at their Feb. 19 meeting.
The revised policy will ban the use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes (vaping) on all school properties in the district, regardless of whether classes are in session. The ban will also include vehicles, parking lots, sports fields, driveways, courtyards and private vehicles parked on school property.
In his report to the trustees, Stretch notes that section 2.2 of the Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act bans the use of tobacco and vapour products in all public kindergarten to Grade 12 schools in B.C. and states a person must not smoke or use tobacco/e-cigarettes, or hold lighted tobacco/activated e-cigarettes in or on school property.
The report adds, however, that the policy does not apply to the ceremonial use of tobacco on school property if the ceremonial use of tobacco is approved by the board and it is performed in relation to a traditional Aboriginal cultural activity or by a prescribed group for a prescribed purpose, with the approval of the school’s principal.
Except for a few meetings held each year at rural schools, board of education meetings are generally held at 7 p.m. at the school district’s head office, 1383 Ninth Ave. in South Kamloops, across from South Kamloops secondary.
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