POLICY 2-4.4 TOBACCO USE ON SCHOOL PROPERTY

Smoking is prohibited at all times and under all circumstances in all Montgomery County Public School buildings as provided in federal, state and local law.

Each principal shall post signs stating "No Smoking" as applicable within each school building. The supervisor of transportation shall post signs visible upon entering each school bus stating "No Smoking."

Smoking, chewing, or any other use of any tobacco products by staff, students, patrons and visitors shall be prohibited on Montgomery County School Board property as defined in this policy.

For purposes of this policy, the following definitions shall apply:

“Montgomery County School Board property” shall mean all property owned, leased, rented, or otherwise used by a school including, but not limited to, the following:

a. All interior portions of any building or structure used for instruction, administration, support services, maintenance or storage, as well as outdoor bleachers; and

b. All vehicles used by the division for transporting students, staff, visitors, or other persons.

“Tobacco” shall include cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, snuff, chewing tobacco and all other kinds and forms of tobacco prepared in such manner as to be suitable for chewing, smoking, or both. “Tobacco” shall include cloves or any other product packaged for smoking.

“Use” shall mean lighting, chewing, inhaling or smoking any tobacco product.

This policy shall be published in student handbooks, posted on bulletin boards, and announced in meetings. Staff and students found to be in violation of this policy shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.

Exemptions

The School Board may consider requests for exemptions from this policy that demonstrate the existence of extraordinary circumstances to warrant such an exemption and that do not violate federal or state law. The School Board may direct the division superintendent to issue regulations designating smoking areas on school grounds outside buildings.

LEGAL REFERENCE: Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, §§ 15.2-2800, et seq; Clean Indoor Air Act 20 U.S.C. § 6083.

Adopted: April 2004