Tamaqua is the latest in a growing number of school districts in the state and nationwide which are rewriting tobacco use policies to include electronic cigarettes.

Existing Tamaqua School District policy prohibits tobacco use in school buildings and property, as well as on any property, buses, vans and vehicles owned, leased or controlled by the school district."We are adapting our tobacco-use policies to include smokeless cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vapor cigarettes as well as look-alike items on school property and at our events," district Superintendent Carol Makuta said."The policies on tobacco use include ones for administrative employees, professional employees and noninstructional employees, and also for the public, at school events."During a meeting of committees Tuesday, the Tamaqua school board had a first reading of the amended policies. The policies will be scheduled for a vote during the school board meeting TuesdayProponents of the electronic cigarettes, commonly called e-cigarettes, say that they are safer than tobacco cigarettes.Opponents of the e-cigarettes point out that the product isn't currently regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and point out that the product does deliver nicotine to the user.In other action Tuesday, the school board heard from people who had concerns about which of two candidates the board would hire to act as swim team coach."Some of the parents are campaigning for one candidate and another group of parents are campaigning for a second candidate," Makuta said."We collected their signature lists and any other letters of recommendation that they brought, so the board could include that info in their decision."