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Gadsden students urge board to adopt comprehensive tobacco-free policy, citing vaping data
Summary
Student leaders from the SWAT program presented data and asked the board to adopt a comprehensive tobacco-free schools policy aligned with Tobacco Free Florida standards to curb vaping and protect students.
Students in the Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) program told the School Board that Gadsden County Schools needs a uniform, comprehensive tobacco-free policy to reduce youth nicotine use on campus.
Ayden Burke and Cameron Claridy described their SWAT activities and urged the board to update district policy to include a clear purpose statement, enforcement mechanisms for students, staff and visitors, prevention education at appropriate grade levels, and access to cessation resources. The students cited local 2024 data showing 43.3% of students reported seeing peers use electronic vapor products on school property and discussed national trends that show most adult smokers begin using nicotine before age 18.
Board member Stacey S. Hannigon thanked the students and said she and staff will work to identify current policy deficiencies relative to Tobacco Free Florida standards, with proposed changes to be brought to the board in coming months.
The Department of Health staff present offered to collaborate on drafting policy language and implementation supports. The presentation focused on prevention, education and policy alignment; no formal board action was taken during the meeting.
