School board fires up tobacco debate

A new district policy to create a “tobacco-free environment” produced brief but unexpected debate at the last meeting of the Sisters School Board on February 13. The policy was ultimately adopted on a 3-2 vote.

The new policy replaces one that essentially has only prevented tobacco use on district property. The replacement prohibits student use of tobacco “on district premises, at school-sponsored activities on or off district premises, in district-owned rented or leased vehicles or otherwise while the student is under the jurisdiction of the school.”

Similar prohibitions apply to school staff.

Moreover, the policy prohibits “clothing, bags, hats and other personal items used by staff and students to display, promote or advertise tobacco products” on school grounds or at school-sponsored activities. “District acceptance of gifts or funds from the tobacco industry is similarly prohibited.”

Board Member Steve Rudinsky cited the latter provision when he objected to the proposed policy as being “too harsh.” What would happen, he asked, if a retired tobacco company executive chose to live in Sisters and offered to make a gift from his earnings from stock in his former company?

“I’m not a smoker,” Rudinsky said, “but if money is involved…”

His comments triggered a discussion in which most of his colleagues appeared to disagree with him. Nonetheless, Rudinsky said, “I view this as exclusionary.” In response, Mike Gould said, “If someone wanted to give us a million shares of Winston stock I’d try to find other ways of getting the money.”

Rudinsky also pointed to the severity of penalty provisions, ranging from possible expulsion for student violators to dismissal for teachers and other employees.

When asked about its origin, Superintendent Ted Thonstad said the policy proposal came from the Oregon School Board Association, which receives advice on such matters from an organization devoted to campaigning against tobacco use. The board has been receiving, and for the most part routinely approving, updates of a wide variety of district policies for a year or more.

After a few minutes, a vote was taken and the anti-tobacco policy was adopted by a majority consisting of Chairman Jeff Smith, Glen Lasken and Rob Corrigan. Gould, who spoke in favor of the policy during the debate, voted “No” along with Rudinsky.

When asked later about the apparent contradiction, Gould said he voted against the policy “simply because I wasn’t done talking about it. I wasn’t satisfied with the fact that although I didn’t necessarily agree with what Steve was saying I wasn’t done hearing him out. From a belief standpoint I’m sort of on the side of the majority there, but I wasn’t done hearing what Steve had to say.”