There will be more than just football during Friday night's Bluffton-Spencerville football game.

During the third quarter of Spencerville’s Homecoming game, the Bearcat mascot will be chasing “Ciggy” Cigarette around the field, trying to stomp him out since tobacco is not allowed on campus.

Spencerville Local Schools have implemented a new tobacco-free policy to create a more positive, healthy environment for students. The new policy prohibits all students, staff and visitors from possessing or using any tobacco products while inside school buildings, on school property or at school sponsored events.

Spencerville’s tobacco-free policy stems from a recent recommendation from the Ohio Board of Education (OBE). In July, the OBE voted unanimously in favor of 100% tobacco-free school campuses, including parking lots and athletic facilities. School systems could adopt or reject the recommendation.

State law prohibits smoking inside school buildings, but surrounding campuses are not automatically smoke-free areas.

Spencerville instituted the policy because school staff members and visitors serve as role models to students at a time when they are making choices about tobacco for themselves.

The new policy will:
• Provide a safe, healthy and tobacco-free environment;
• Ensure compliance with state laws that limit access to tobacco by minors;
• Protect students with illnesses that are worsened by secondhand smoke, such as asthma;
• Prepare students for the reality of tobacco-free workplaces and communities;
• Reduce school maintenance costs; and,
• Reduce the risk of fires.

For more information about 100% tobacco-free school policies, visit: http://www.healthyohioprogram.org/healthylife/tobc2/tprevention/tobfrees....