Tobacco.org

Smoking fines stubbed out beyond Danvers school grounds 

School officials were concerned for the welfare of Danvers High School students when they accepted the new Student Policy Handbook last week with its expanded no-smoking policy to areas beyond school grounds but within "wafting" distance.

Though the policy also included a $100 fine for the first and subsequent offenses, that first offense would be waived if the student (or employee) agreed to enroll in a smoking cessation program.

But, it was the fine that caused most of the controversy at the Sept. 24 meeting of the Board of Health.

"The goal is to focus on the students, not to focus on the penalty piece," said Tom Murray, principal of Danvers High School, who appeared with Peg Sallade of DanversCARES, the community-wide coalition that focuses on substance abuse prevention.

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