SIMI VALLEY : Smoking Ban OKd for All Campuses

Simi Valley school leaders have approved a measure banning smoking on the district’s 27 campuses and all its properties. The new policy will go into effect March 1.

Under the measure, employees, students and visitors will be prohibited from smoking on property owned or leased by the Simi Valley Unified School District, officials said.

“At most school sites and the district office, we have a designated smoking area,” Supt. Mary Beth Wolford said. “Those places will not be available anymore.”

State and federal law requires that school districts adopt tobacco-free policies prohibiting smoking by July 1, 1995, to receive funding for programs that teach students about the dangers of tobacco use.

The Simi Valley school district was recently granted about $74,000 in state funds for high school tobacco-use prevention programs.

To inform the community about the policy change, signs will be posted at school site entrances, Wolford said.

The policy change was approved this week by the school board during a review of new board policies and regulations. Wolford said she has heard grumbles from some employees opposed to the measure, but doubted whether the change would trigger any walkouts.

“We’ll tell people (they cannot smoke) just as businesses and restaurants do,” Wolford said. “It’s going to be a big change for some people.”