Smoking ban gives students a breath of fresh air

MARQUETTE — At its last board meeting, Marquette Area Public Schools decided to make a healthy change.

As of this month, tobacco will be banned on all Marquette Area Public School property. This is a bit of a change from the previous smoking policy.

“We’ve had some loopholes in there, weekends, after hours, things like that where people have been able to. And in setting that positive message for students: what’s the healthy choice for students to make, how can we be the best role models we can be as a school district, this was the best approach to go down that road and, again, set a great example for the students of Marquette Area Public Schools,” said Bill Saunders, superintendent of Marquette Area Public Schools.

Now, students and staff, as well as visitors will be banned from smoking at all times. The school board even hopes to prevent tobacco use during off campus school activities as well, though that may be harder to enforce.

“The whole message is a healthy well being for our students and again, our community members as well,” Saunders added.

MAPS will start installing “No Smoking” signs around their schools soon. Those were paid for with by the Sault Tribe Community Transformation Grant.