10 - Sunday, June 25, 1989 - North Shore News 1990 DEADLINE MAY BE REVIEWED NV School Board to ban smoking NORTH VANCOUVER _ District 44 School Board backed off from wholehearted approval of the pro- new school district smoking policy at their final spring meeting. By MAUREEN CURTIS - Contributing Writer Board members said they liked the spirit of the policy, which calls for an eventual total ban on smok- ing by anyone on district property, but had reservations about the pol- ys implementation by the fall of 1 After some debate, the board approved the policy, but only if September 1990 was listed as the “proposed’’ effective date for the ban. The proposed smoking policy, produced by a committee of school district and community repre- sentatives, is intended to refiect the board’s desire to take a stronger stand for the health and rights of non-smokers and against smoking. Research has indicated that second-hand smeke can be much more dangerous than that inhaled through filtered cigarettes by the smoker, assistant superintendent Dr. Ray Williams told the board. He presented the extensive research conducted by committee members which indicated not only the known health risks of smoking, but its growing related economic and legal ramifications. A survey of parents, students, teachers, school administrators Home support society receives funds THE NORTH Shore Home Sup- port Services Society of North Vancouver has received approval of an $83,144 B.C. Lottery Fund award to expand its personal emergency alerting system, Angus Ree, Solicitor General and MLA for North Vancouver-Capilano, announced recently. “This funding allows the society to buy additional home units which will give peace of mind to PARTS ONLY~” | _ BRANES CLUTCHES, WATERPUMPS, | (-.. ALTERNATORS, STARTERS, ETC," ee BRAKE : tuning, repack aS, . duty: “brake shoes’ or organic ‘pads. :: - 820. MARINE DR; (OLD CAL VAN BUILDING): i: and other employees (79 per cent of them non-smokers) indicated that a majority are bothered by smoking and a large majority of them are against using school facil- ities such as staff rooms as places where smoking should be allowed. More than half of those surveyed thought the district should provide quit-smoking pro- grams for employees, while student programs garnered even more support. The North Vancouver Teachers Association has indicated approval of the draft proposal, but CUPE, representing the janitorial workers, two thirds of whom smoke, is op~ “This is something we should be working towards, but is going to be very difficult to enforce,’’ said secondary schoo! representative Tom Tupper. Trustee Richard Walton was concerned that the ban would force students off district property and increase the likelihood of gang recruitment. Removing smokers from school grounds would have an effect on the neighborhood, pointed out Trustee Philip Joe, who lives next to a parochial school that bans smoking. “‘And guess where the smokers end up? in front of my property,” said Joe. Trustee Roy Dungey was most critical of the proposed policy, particularly because it would in- clude the garages and workshops in the schools, as well as janitorial another 420 frail, handicapped and ‘at risk’ (people) who live alone,” said Ree. The North Shore system is hooked into the central monitoring Station at Lions Gate Hospital. The society has 110 home units in place at the moment and has responded to 24 emergency calls since the system began operating in February 1988. The system involves a small “CUSTOM SHADES « RESTORATIONS ¢ REPAIRS « LAMP PARTS STOCKED « WIDE VARIETY OF BULBS « BRING IN YOUR OLD LAMP FOR A NEW FITTING. staff who usually work alone, at night, and don’t bother anyone. “The policy represents one view tuo heavily to the exclusion of all piers. It isn’t well thought out,’ ¢ sai But Dr, Williams said making exclusions of people, places or times from a smoking policy leads to morale problems. “If you introduce a policy, it has to be consistently applied to everyone,”’ Williams said. The only other way of assuring the health and comfort of non- smokers would be to allocate smoking arcas that would be on totally separate air circulation systems, which would be pro- hibitively expensive. The trustees toyed with the idea of tabling the whole matter or ap- proving only the first part of the smoking policy, which would be to have designated smoking areas in all schools, Dr. Williams indicated that this would only reaffirm the situation that already existed throughout the district, while avoiding the major thrust of the policy. “There is a review process built into the policy,’’ said school super- intendent Dr. Robin Brayne. Trustee Dungey insisted that the smoking policy be brought back for review and not be allowed to “stip by’? before problem issues have been resolved. And Trustee Anne Macdonald said more input was needed from the district's students. “Not just the school board but radio transmitter worn as a pen- dant around the neck. In an emergency, the wearer presses a button, which sends a message to the central monitoring station. There is an immediate response. “These systems are an important contribution not only to health care in the province, but to the cost effectiveness of that care as well,’’ said Health Minister Peter Dueck. Western Canada’ 5 Largest Selection up with a solution to the smoking the whole community should put problem,”’ said Macdonald. more faith in the students to come FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION Ss LL CHARLES G, STEIN 986-8600 How? Call us and qualify for Royal Insurance on collision & com- prehensive coverage. You get com- petitive rates (sometimes lower) and emergency road service at NO EXTRA cost! 759 Park Royal North 922-9521 Heather forward (outside entrance) of Quality Shades ON SELECTED SHADES FEATURING AMICHCE EE. FINEST QUALITY HANDMADE SHADES ”