PENDLETON — Student athletes caught smoking could be suspended from competing if the board of the South Madison Community School Corp. approves a proposed policy change.

The new rules, which the board reviewed Thursday night, forbid a student athlete from using, selling or distributing tobacco products at any time.

A student would be suspended from 20 percent of the athletic season after one offense. Three offenses would suspend a student from athletics for the duration of his or her enrollment in the school district.

Superintendent Thomas Warmke said he believes few school districts have a similar policy, and coaches support it.

“This did not come from the superintendent,” he said. “The coaches were the ones who were driving this.”

The penalties for tobacco are less than those for other drugs or alcohol, but board members said they’d like to see the penalties increased once the school district instates a tobacco counseling program.

Students who violate the policy for drugs other than tobacco can have their suspensions reduced by voluntarily entering the student assistance counseling program.

Board member Mike Gaskill said the goal of the district’s athletic council was to make the penalties for tobacco the same. He and other board members said tobacco should be considered as serious as other drugs.

Board member Pat Valentine asked for stronger wording for the statement on staff responsibilities for enforcing the tobacco policy.

Warmke said he would have the district’s legal counsel consider the changes and report back to the board.

The meeting was the last for board members DeAnn Wehner and Susan Campbell. Chris Boots and Terry Auker step in next month.