Community Corner
School District of Manatee County Goes Tobacco Free
Tobacco products are now banned on all property belonging to the Manatee County School District. School board members voted on a district-wide moratorium Monday night.
On Monday night, the Manatee County School Board Officials voted to make the district a tobacco free zone, officials said Tuesday.
That means all tobacco products would be prohibited anytime, anywhere and by anyone on all school property, and at all school-sponsored events.
While there have always been policies requiring that buildings be smoke-free indoors, an increasing number of school boards throughout Florida have gone 100 percent tobacco-free indoors and out
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Proponents of the law say it protects non-smoking teachers and students from the adverse affects of second-hand smoke, saves the district in health-care costs and sets a good example for children. However, critics of the law say it interferes with a person’s lifestyle and legality of the law often comes into question, as they say, it’s a violation of their freedom of choice.
In June 2011, Gov. Rick Scott signed a law amending the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act to give school boards the authority to designate all district property as tobacco-free. Since then, several college campuses and school districts have followed suite.
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