In accordance with federal and state law, smoking (including electronic cigarettes), vaping, and the use of tobacco products, as well as any nicotine or cannabis products, are prohibited in all District buildings, on school property and within 100 feet of all entrances, exits and boundaries of elementary and secondary schools (except for in a private residence or on residential property) at all times, at school-sponsored activities on or off campus, and in any vehicle used to transport children or personnel.
Definitions
Smoking includes the burning of a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, electronic cigarette, vaporizer or any other matter or substance which contains tobacco, cannabis or cannabinoid hemp.
Electronic cigarette (or e-cigarette) means an electronic device delivering vapor inhaled by an individual user, and includes any refill, cartridge, and any other component of such device.
Tobacco products means cigarettes or cigars, bidis, chewing tobacco, powdered tobacco, nicotine water, or any other tobacco product.
Vaping means the use of an electronic cigarette, vaporizer or other nicotine or cannabis delivery device currently known or developed in the future.
Cannabis use means the use of cannabis in any form, including, but not limited to, the ingesting of cannabis or concentrated cannabis products.
Rules
Smoking, vaping, and other tobacco and cannabis use is prohibited in all District vehicles including those used to transport students, as well as in other vehicles on school property.
Signs will be posted at the entryways of all buildings, on all District grounds, and in all vehicles used to transport students indicating that smoking and other tobacco and cannabis use is prohibited.
The Principal of each school building or designee shall be responsible for informing individuals who are smoking or otherwise using tobacco, cannabis and/or vape products that they are in violation of Article 13-E of the Public Health Law and/or Section 409 of the Education Law and/or the federal Pro-Children Acts of 1994 and 2001. The Superintendent or designee shall have this responsibility in other buildings owned by the District.
Students and visitors violating this policy will be subject to disciplinary action as specified in the Code of Conduct.
Staff members who violate this policy shall be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with law, Board policy and applicable collective bargaining agreements.
Persons who refuse to comply with this policy may be removed from school grounds, and may be prohibited from returning.
This policy does not apply to lawful medical cannabis use in compliance with state law and
regulation for those who are properly certified and registered; however, state regulations do not
permit smoking or vaporizing medical cannabis where smoking and vaping are prohibited by
law.
Cross-Ref:
District Code of Conduct
Ref:
Education Law §§409(2)
Public Health Law Article 13-E
Public Health Law §§206; 340; 347
The Pro-Children Act of 2001, 20 U.S.C. §§7181 et seq.
The Pro-Children Act of 1994, 20 U.S.C. §§6081 et seq.
Adoption date: December 1, 1995
Amended date; July 2, 2002
Amended date: June 12, 2006
Amended date: November 23, 2015
Amended date: October 30, 2017
Amended date: January 24, 2022
To print or download this policy, please click here.