Schools win grants for anti-smoking programs

Seven Iowa school districts are getting state grants for “comprehensive” anti-smoking programs. Cathy Calloway of the Iowa Department of Public Health says the idea is to teach the dangers of smoking in every grade, beginning with kindergarten.Calloway says the whole school campus in those districts is a “no-smoking” zone. That includes the parking lots and sports fields. Calloway says there are programs to help kids and teachers who are smoking quit. Calloway says the schools started their anti-smoking programs last spring.Calloway says 39-percent of junior and senior high students in Iowa smoke or chew tobacco. The Clarion/Goldfield, Clinton, Johnston, Nodaway Valley, Sibley/Ocheydan, Van Buren, and Villisca school districts are receiving grants of up to 75-thousand dollars, based on how many students are enrolled.