Proud to (still) be tobacco free

Kimball students have become active members of the Kimball Prevention Coalition (KPC) and have focused on keeping themselves and others tobacco free.

Several student leaders have taken the initiative to enforce tobacco-free public school properties by posting signs, making announcements at events, distributing printed material and using the school’s all-call system to remind patrons that “Kimball Public Schools are proud to be tobacco-free.”

Three of these students spoke at the most recent Board of Education meeting, on Monday, Dec. 12. Junior Alex Reader joined sophomores Kate Reader and Madison Wynne to apprise the board of their efforts.

Each of these three students, who are charter members of KPC, are involved in many extra-curricular activities, as are the majority of the KPC members.

“We have made some signs to hang on the schools to show that Kimball Public Schools is tobacco-free,” Kate Reader said. “We always have been but now we are enforcing it.”

The students have made business cards to remind visitors to the high school that cigarettes, chewing tobacco, vapor pens and look-alike products such as candy “cigarette” sticks and jerky “chew” are not allowed on school property.

“I have gotten a lot of comments about how we are improving our school and I really like how the student body is getting involved,” Wynne said. “We know what is going around the school with students, and we can help that.”

Board members thanked the young leaders for their work and encouraged them to keep up the good work.