It's butts out for public school district

By Walter Wasacz

Everyone at the Hamtramck Public Schools can now breathe a lot easier.

That’s because the Hamtramck Board of Education recently voted unanimously voted to make the school district smoke free in all of its buildings 24 hours a day, every day.

That means no smoking on school property even after 6 p.m., which had been mandated by state law. The Michigan Department of Education and State Board of Education both recommended that local boards of education adopt a smoking ban that extends around clock.

Superintendent Tom Niczay said that making the public schools smoke free promotes healthy living for students, staff and visitors.

“It’s extremely unhealthy to allow smoking on school property at any time,” Niczay said. “The medical advice is overwhelming. You can take your pick, everyone from the U.S. Surgeon General to the State Board of Education is in agreement on this.”

Niczay said Kosciuszko Middle School is in the second year of a grant that provides $25,000 for improving the overall health of all students. The grant stresses exercise, healthy food choices  and a commitment to a tobacco free campus.  

“A tobacco free campus is a 24 hours per day, seven days a week, 365 days per year commitment,” Niczay said. “The Hamtramck Public Schools are striving to establish a healthy and safe environment for all students and staff.”

Niczay said the full cooperation of parents, staff and students is needed.

“It will be enforced,” he said. “If people are insubordinate we’ll have to deal with it. We are taking this health issue very seriously.”