The RI Gen. Laws § 23-20.9-1 et seq. "Smoking Restrictions in Schools Act" of 1992 (Public Law 92-230), effective September 1, 1993, prohibits the use of any substance or item which contains tobacco, including but not limited to: cigarettes, cigars, pipes, other smoking tobacco, snuff or smokeless tobacco, e-cigarettes, electronic nicotine-delivery system, all related products and paraphernalia for use and delivery of tobacco and nicotine products, or products that mimic the actions of smoking, vaping or inhaling. Electronic nicotine-delivery system means “any electronic device that may be used to simulate smoking in the delivery of nicotine or other substance to a person inhaling from the device, and includes, but is not limited to, an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe, or electronic hookah and any related device and any cartridge or other component of such device”.
Tobacco product use is prohibited in all areas of nonresidential school buildings (PK-12), public or private. This includes, but is not limited to, all school playgrounds, school administration buildings, indoor school athletic facilities, school gymnasiums, school locker rooms, school buses, other school vehicles, and other school buildings whose use is not primarily residential. In addition, tobacco product use is prohibited in all outside areas or school department property and school sanctioned events.
The West Warwick School Committee encourages all its employees and students in the West Warwick schools, who presently use any substance or item which contains tobacco and/or products outlined above, to refrain from using such products and/or to attend a smoking cessation program.
The West Warwick School Department maintains smoke-free properties. All people, children or adults, who utilize West Warwick school properties are prohibited from using and possessing, at any time of the day or night, any substance or item which contains tobacco or nicotine, including but not limited to all items listed in section 1 above. Violation of this policy may result in appropriate disciplinary or corrective action.
Visitors who are observed smoking or using tobacco products on school grounds may be informed of the RI Gen. Laws § 23-20.9-2 et seq. "Smoking Restrictions in Schools Act" and may be asked by anyone in the school to refrain from smoking or using tobacco products. If the individual fails to comply with the request, his or her violation of policy shall be referred to the building principal or the personnel responsible for the area in which the violation occurred. The building principal or personnel responsible for the area may make a decision on further action which may include a directive to leave the school building. Repeated violations may result in a recommendation to be Superintendent of Schools to prohibit the individual from school grounds for a specified period of time.
References:
Adoption Date:
09/13/1993
Revision Date:
02/14/19