The Southern Oklahoma Technology Center will be tobacco-free beginning July 1.
“The decision for a tobacco-free campus is our way of demonstrating our commitment to promoting health and wellness throughout the community,” Superintendent David Powell said in a notice sent to the SOTC community.
A committee has been formed to ease SOTC through the transition to be tobacco-free.
Janie Horton, the Carter County Tobacco Use Prevention Coordinator, has been aiding the committee by providing information and publicity materials.
“I’m just so pleased that SOTC is taking this step. The more schools and businesses take the tobacco-free step, the more it becomes the norm and that’s what we want — to change the norm,” Horton said Wednesday.
SOTC’s former policy allowed adult students, staff and visitors to use tobacco products in designated areas. The new policy prohibits all tobacco products on campus and in any vehicle owned or leased by the district.
The SOTC community seems to be “willing to give it a try and is pretty open to it,” SOTC seminar facilitator Kristi Dedek said Wednesday.
However, Dedek arranges for outside organizations and businesses to use SOTC’s facilities and the new rules will also apply to them.
“They work in certain environments that allow them to smoke frequently, and I’m not sure how that will affect them,” Dedek said.
Dedek has already begun informing outside groups about the upcoming change in policy, which she said gives them time to find a new location if they want.
“One group has been a little upset about it. Then I reminded them that this is a school first and foremost because people don’t realize that it’s a school. They calmed down a bit after that,” Dedek said.
Schools in Carter County have gradually been going tobacco-free. Horton reports that Plainview, Ardmore, Wilson, Lone Grove and Healdton public schools and Oak Hall Episcopal School have tobacco-free campuses.
“With other schools becoming tobacco-free, it follows that SOTC would be concerned about the health of their students,” Horton said.
Jennifer Lindsey, 221-6526
jennifer.lindsey@ardmoreite.com
