Purpose: To establish the basic structure for the board's prohibition of tobacco use by students.
The district does not allow students to use or to possess tobacco products or tobacco paraphernalia. This restriction applies while students are on school grounds, in the school buildings, on buses, or during any other time they are under the direct administrative jurisdiction of the school, whether on or off the school grounds.
Goal
The goal of this policy is to provide a 100 percent tobacco-free, smoke-free environment for all students, staff, contract or other workers, and visitors within all district facilities, vehicles, and grounds. This includes any building, facility and vehicle owned, leased, rented, or chartered by the district. The goal applies to all school-sponsored or school-related events on or off the school grounds. The district commits to the following:
exhibiting healthy behavior for all students, staff, contract or other workers, visitors, and the entire community
utilizing a proven and effective science-based tobacco use prevention curricula
providing access to cessation counseling or referral services for all students and staff
Procedures
Prohibit the use and/or possession of all tobacco products or paraphernalia including, but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, pipes, smokeless tobacco, snuff, and alternative nicotine products such as e-cigarettes by all students, staff, contract or other workers, and visitors.
Ensure that tobacco use prevention programs as recommended by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, and the South Carolina Department of Education are an integral part of district substance abuse prevention efforts.
Provide and/or refer to cessation services for students and staff.
Enforcement
The district will enforce this policy by determining appropriate disciplinary actions for students violating this policy such as the following:
parent/legal guardian/administrator conferences
mandatory enrollment in a tobacco prevention education
community service
in-school suspension
out-of-school suspension
suspension from extracurricular activities
School administrators will develop procedures consistent with the discipline code of this district in order to enforce this policy (see JICDA-R, Level 2, unauthorized substances).
Education and Assistance
The district will be responsible for utilizing proven and effective tobacco use prevention curricula to educate all students and providing appropriate counseling and/or referral services for students.
Tobacco Industry Marketing or Sponsorship
The district will not accept any contributions or gifts, money, or materials from the tobacco industry. The district will not participate in any type of services that are funded by the tobacco industry. In addition, any gear, paraphernalia, clothing, etc., that advertises tobacco use or tobacco products will not be allowed on district grounds or in the possession of faculty, staff, contract, or other workers, or students at district-sponsored events.