7434 - USE OF TOBACCO ON SCHOOL PREMISES

The Board of Education is committed to providing students, staff, and visitors with a tobacco and smoke-free environment. The negative health effects of tobacco use for both users and nonusers, particularly in connection with second-hand smoke, are well established. Further, providing a non-smoking and tobacco-free environment is consistent with the responsibilities of teachers and staff to be positive role models for our students.

For purposes of this policy, "use of tobacco" means to chew or maintain any substance containing tobacco, including smokeless tobacco, in the mouth to derive the effects of tobacco, as well as all uses of tobacco, including cigars, cigarettes, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff, any other matter or substances that contain tobacco, in addition to papers used to roll cigarettes and/or the smoking of electronic, "vapor," or other substitute forms of cigarettes, clove cigarettes and any other lighted smoking devices for burning tobacco or any other substance.

The term “tobacco” includes any product that contains tobacco, is derived from tobacco, contains nicotine, or e-cigarettes and other electronic smoking devices (including but not limited to "JUULs"), but does not include any cessation product approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for use as a medical treatment to reduce or eliminate nicotine or tobacco dependence.

In order to protect students and staff who choose not to use tobacco from an environment noxious to them, and because the Board does not condone smoking and/or the use of tobacco, the Board prohibits the use of tobacco or tobacco substitute products at all times (twenty-four hours a day, seven (7) days a week) within any enclosed facility owned or leased or contracted for by the Board, and in the areas directly or indirectly under the control of the Board immediately adjacent to locations of ingress or egress to such facilities. This prohibition extends to any Board-owned and/or operated vehicles used to transport students and to all other Board-owned and/or operated vehicles. Such prohibition also applies to school grounds, athletic facilities, and any school-related event, on or off Board premises.

The Superintendent shall require the posting of signs as required by R.C. 3794.06 and as specified by the Ohio Department of Health.

Advertising/Promotion

In accordance with Policy 9700.01, tobacco advertising is prohibited on school grounds, in all school-sponsored publications, and at all school-sponsored events.

Violations of this policy may result in removal from school property or the school activity in accordance with Policy 9150 – School Visitors.

© Neola 2019