Tobacco use shall not be permitted and no person shall use tobacco on school grounds or within one hundred (100) feet of the entrances, exits, or outdoor areas of any public or private elementary or secondary schools. However, this shall not apply to smoking in a residence, or within the real property boundary lines of such residential real property. For purposes of this policy, “school grounds” means any building, structure, and surrounding outdoor grounds, including entrances or exits, contained within the District’s preschool, nursery school, elementary or secondary school’s legally defined property boundaries as registered in the County Clerk’s Office; as well as all District vehicles, including vehicles used to transport children or school personnel.
For purposes of this policy, tobacco is defined to include any lighted or unlighted cigarette, cigar, cigarillo, pipe, bidi, clove cigarette, spit/spitless tobacco and any other smoking or tobacco product, (smokeless, dip, chew, snus and/or snuff) in any form.

The use of e-cigarettes, vaporizers, and/or any other products that may contain nicotine, except for current FDA-approved smoking cessation products, are strictly prohibited. Possession by students of paraphernalia such as e-cigarettes, vaporizers, and/or any other products that may contain nicotine shall be seized by the District. The District reserves the right to give such paraphernalia to law enforcement, as it deems necessary and appropriate. Students who use and/or possess e-cigarettes, vaporizers, and/or any other products that may contain nicotine shall be subject to disciplinary action as the facts may warrant, in accordance with the District’s Code of Conduct.

Tobacco use is prohibited by students at any school-sponsored event or activity off school grounds. This includes the use and/or possession of e-cigarettes, vaporizers, and/or any other products that may contain nicotine, as set forth above.

In compliance with the New York State Clean Indoor Air Act, the District will prominently post this policy and signs prohibiting all forms of tobacco products in District buildings and other appropriate locations; and will supply a copy upon request to any current or prospective employee. The District will also designate a school official to tell individuals who smoke in a non-smoking area that they are in violation of the New York State Public Health Law, Education Law, the federal Pro-Children Act of 1994 and District policy.

The District shall also ensure that this policy is communicated to staff, students, parents/guardians, volunteers, and visitors as deemed appropriate in order to orient all persons to the District’s “No Smoking” Policy and environment.

Tobacco promotional items (e.g., brand names, logos and other identifiers) are prohibited:

• a) On school grounds;

• b) In school vehicles;

• c) At school-sponsored events, including those that take place off school premises and in another state;

• d) In school publications;

• e) On clothing, shoes, accessories, gear, and school supplies in accordance with the District Code of Conduct and applicable collective bargaining agreements.

• This prohibition of tobacco promotional items shall be implemented in accordance with the Code of Conduct and applicable collective bargaining agreements.

In addition, tobacco advertising is also prohibited in all school-sponsored publications and at all school sponsored events. The District will request, whenever possible, tobacco free editions of periodical publications for school libraries and classroom use.

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.

The Board of Education recognizes that the misuse of alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and other illegal substances is a serious problem with legal, physical, emotional and social implications for our students, as well as the entire community. Therefore, the consumption, sharing and/or selling, use and/or possession of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, illegal drugs, counterfeit and designer drugs, or paraphernalia for the use of such drugs is prohibited at any school-sponsored event or on school property at all times. The inappropriate use of prescription and over-the-counter drugs shall also be disallowed. Persons shall be banned from entering school grounds or school-sponsored events when exhibiting behavioral, personal or physical characteristics indicative of having used or consumed alcohol or other substances.

Non-medical use of prescription drugs among young people has become an increasing problem in the United States. Prescription drugs are easier to access because they can be taken from their home’s medicine cabinet and young people may believe they are safer than illicit drugs because they are manufactured by a pharmaceutical company.

Should a student be found in possession of any of these substances, they shall be dealt with in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

The use of e-cigarettes, vaporizers, and/or any other products that may typically contain nicotine among young people for illegal drug use has also become an increasing problem in the United States. The use and/or possession of e-cigarettes, vaporizers, and/or any other products that may typically contain nicotine but can be utilized for illegal drug use are strictly prohibited on school grounds and at school events.
Paraphernalia such as e-cigarettes, vaporizers, and/or any other products that may typically contain nicotine but can be utilized for illegal drug use shall be seized by the District. The District reserves the right to give such paraphernalia to law enforcement, as it deems necessary and appropriate.
Students who use and/or possess e-cigarettes, vaporizers, and/or any other products that may typically contain nicotine but can be utilized for illegal drug use shall be subject to disciplinary action as the facts may warrant, in accordance with the District’s Code of Conduct.

Persons shall be banned from entering school grounds or school-sponsored events when exhibiting behavioral, personal or physical characteristics indicative of having used or consumed alcohol or other substances. A school-sponsored function shall mean a school-sponsored or school-authorized extracurricular event or activity regardless of where such event or activity takes place, including any event or activity that may take place in another state.

In accordance with Penal Law Section 220.00 for purposes of controlled substances offenses:

• a) “School grounds” means (a) in or on or within any building, structure, athletic playing field, playground or land contained within the real property boundary line of the District’ s schools, or (b) any area accessible to the public located within one thousand (1,000) feet of the real property boundary line comprising any such school or any parked automobile or other parked vehicle located within one thousand (1,000) feet of the real property boundary line comprising any District school. An “area accessible to the public” shall mean sidewalks, streets, parking lots, parks, playgrounds, stores and restaurants.

• b) “School bus” means every motor vehicle owned by the District and operated for the transportation of pupils, teachers and other persons acting in a supervisory capacity, to or from school or school activities or privately owned and operated for compensation for the transportation of pupils, children of pupils, teachers and other persons acting in a supervisory capacity to or from school or school activities.

Through the collaborative efforts of staff, students, parents/guardians and the community as a whole, a comprehensive program shall be developed addressing alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and other substances to include the following elements:

Preventing or delaying alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and other substance use/abuse by students shall be the major focus of a comprehensive K through 12 program in which proactive measures of prevention and early intervention are emphasized. This program shall include:

• a) A sequential K through 12 curriculum based on recognized principles of effectiveness that is developed and incorporated into the total educational process. This curriculum shall be concerned with education and prevention in all areas of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and other substances use/abuse;

• b) Training school personnel and parents/guardians to reinforce the components of the policy through in-service and community education programs with up-to-date factual information and materials;

• c) An effort to provide positive alternatives to alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and other substances use/abuse through the promotion of drug/tobacco/alcohol-free special events, service projects and extracurricular activities that will develop and support a positive peer influence.

School-based intervention services shall be made available to all students, grades K through 12, and provided by prevention professionals who are appropriately trained in this area. The purpose of intervention is to eliminate any existing use/abuse of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and other substances and to identify students considered to be at risk for use/abuse. Intervention programming shall include:

• a) Counseling of students in groups and as individuals on alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and other substance use/abuse. Counselors shall be appropriately trained and skilled school staff assigned for this purpose;

• b) Referring students to community or other outside agencies when their use/abuse of alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and other substances requires additional counseling or treatment. Referral is a key link in school and community efforts and the process is basic to the dissemination of information regarding available counseling and health services;

• c) Providing a supportive school environment designed to continue the recovery process for students returning from treatment. A re-entry program may include continuing student and/or family counseling and emphasizing positive alternatives to alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and other substance use/abuse;

• d) Developing a parent network to serve as a support group and provide a vehicle of communication for parent education;

• e) Ensuring confidentiality as required by state and federal law.

Students consuming, sharing and/or selling, using and/or possessing alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, illegal drugs, counterfeit and designer drugs, or paraphernalia for the use of such drugs shall be subject to discipline as the facts may warrant in accordance with the District’s Code of Conduct.

There shall be ongoing training of District staff about the components of an effective alcohol, tobacco and other substances program. Training shall include, but not be limited to, District policies and regulations and the staff’s role in implementing such policies and regulations. Teachers shall be trained to implement the District’s K through 12 alcohol, tobacco, drugs and other substance prevention curricula; intervention staff shall be suitably trained to carry out appropriate services.

It shall be the responsibility of the Superintendent to implement the alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and other substances Board policy by collaboration with school personnel, students, parents/guardians and the community at large. Additionally, copies of Board policy shall be disseminated to District staff, parents/guardians and community members. The Superintendent/designee shall periodically review the tobacco, drugs and alcohol abuse prevention program to determine its effectiveness and support appropriate modifications, as needed.

#3280 — Community Use of School Facilities
#3410 — Code of Conduct on School Property
#5640 — Smoking/Tobacco Use
#7310 — School Conduct and Discipline
#8211 — Prevention Instruction District Code of Conduct on School Property