Henry County Schools Tobacco-Free Work Recognized   
 

Hayla Hall (front, center) presents Erik Charles with a plaque, while supported by youth advisory council members from local communities.

Henry County Schools Board of Education was formally recognized by District 4 Public Health (LaGrange district) officials during Monday evening's board meeting.  Hayla Hall, public information officer for District 4 Public Health, presented a plaque to board Vice Chairman Erik Charles recognizing the school system's efforts to become tobacco-free.
 
Henry County Schools became the 80th system in the state to approve the 100% Tobacco-Free Schools Model Policy during last month's meeting.  Hall, as well as youth from advisory councils representing Shiloh McDonough Community Outreach, Inc. and Zion Community Center of Hampton, were in attendance to help make the presentation to the Board of Education.

"This is a very positive policy update for our employees, students, and community," said Rodney Bowler, Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services.  "A tobacco-free school system supports a healthy lifestyle that we can all be proud of."
 
With the policy's approval, the school system is eligible to receive signage, programmatic training, media campaigns, and other anti-tobacco materials to help raise the public's awareness to the new policy and the dangers of tobacco use for everyone, especially youth.
 
When the new policy takes effect, nearly 40,000 students and 6,000 employees will breathe easier without the chance of exposure to tobacco products at any time on campuses, at athletic events, or while riding or operating a school vehicle.
 
According to state officials, approximately 1,150,201 youth are protected by the tobacco-free policy.

-Story by Hayla Hall, Risk Communicator, LaGrange Health District, District 4