FILLMORE : Schools Praised for Ban on Tobacco Use

Fillmore Unified School District officials have received a resolution from the county Board of Supervisors congratulating them for becoming the county’s first school district to declare its campuses and facilities tobacco-free.

The resolution was presented to the district by a representative of Supervisor Maggie Kildee’s office at Tuesday’s school board meeting.

Assistant Supt. Mario Contini said the policy--which went into effect Sept. 1--bans all tobacco use on its six campuses, any property owned by the district and its vehicles.

By implementing the tobacco ban, the district satisfies requirements to continue receiving funding through Proposition 99, which went into effect in 1990.

Proposition 99 called for a 25-cent increase on all smoking and chewing-tobacco products in part to fund programs to educate the public about the dangers of tobacco use. To receive funding, the proposition mandates that all school districts implement a tobacco-free policy by 1996.

“The smokers might say ‘This is just one more slap in the face,’ but it’s the smoke we’re opposed to, not the smoker,” said Jeanne Scott, coordinator of county Public Health Service’s Tobacco Education and Control Program.

According to Nan Waltman, a senior health educator with Public Health Services, all 21 school districts receive Proposition 99 revenue. The Fillmore district was allotted $12,510 from the funds for the 1992-93 school year.