Boston Public Schools Introduces Tobacco-Free Environment Policy

Editor's note: The following is press release.

Boston Public Schools (BPS) Superintendent Carol R. Johnson today kicked off a campaign aimed at informing schools throughout the city of the district’s new Tobacco-Free Environment policy. The district's policy goes further than any other in the Commonwealth in banning the use, consumption, display and promotion of all tobacco products and nicotine delivery devices on school property and within 50 feet of school property by students, parents, staff and visitors.

“We have come a long way in educating our students about the dangers of tobacco use,” said Dr. Johnson. “Even though the health dangers are well known today, we know that our students are still susceptible to clever marketing of new products that may seem less harmful than a cigarette. This policy and our campaign will ensure that our students are well informed.”

Steps being taken in the Superintendent’s campaign to inform schools of the new policy include new signs inside and outside buildings, a tobacco-free poster contest, and information on access to cessation programs of low or no cost for staff. 

The Boston Public Health Commission contributed to this effort with funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through Communities Putting Prevention to Work. Funding supported involving students and staff in the development of the policy, supporting staff who wanted to quit smoking, and promoting a BPS-wide student art competition to develop tobacco-free messages that will be posted in all Boston public schools.
 
“I want to congratulate the Boston Public Schools for their groundbreaking steps to ban the use and promotion of tobacco and tobacco products on school property,” said Barbara Ferrer, executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission. “We know that children often copy adult behavior, so these policies mean our students will have strong role models to look up to.”

The policy was developed by the BPS Tobacco Policy Task Force, which included parents, teachers, students, principals, and representatives from BPS operations departments, including Facilities, School Safety, Health Services and Health & Wellness. 

“Through a partnership with the Boston Public Health Commission, BPS has been working to increase tobacco prevention and cessation efforts by providing assistance and resources to schools for prevention education and cessation access” says Jill Carter, Executive Director of Health and Wellness in the Boston Public Schools. “We want to create productive learning environments where the healthy choice is the easy choice.” 
 
The new policy provides a clearer definition of school property and includes BPS sponsored events held off school property. The policy also provides stronger implementation supports for principals and administrators, requiring signage, information how to file a complaint and also where to access cessation services.
 
The Boston School Committee approved the policy last month.