I. Purpose

The School Board of Sarasota County (Board) recognizes that the use of tobacco products, including electronic smoking devices, is a health, safety, and environmental hazard for students, employees, parents, visitors, and school facilities. The School Board is committed to providing students, staff and visitors with a smoking and tobacco-free environment. The use of tobacco products on school grounds, in school buildings, in School District vehicles and facilities, on school property or at school-related or school-sponsored events is detrimental to the health and safety of students, employees, and visitors.

II. Applicability of Policy

This policy applies to students, employees, volunteers, parents, spectators, vendors, contractors, delivery persons, visitors and the public.

III. Definitions

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

A. “At any time” means twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week, 365 days a year.

B. “Electronic smoking device” means any product containing or delivering nicotine, or any other substance, whether natural or synthetic, intended for human consumption through the inhalation of aerosol or vapor from the product. “Electronic smoking device includes but is not limited to devices manufactured, marketed, or sold as e-cigarettes, e-cigars, e-pipes, vape pens, similar devices, or under any other product name or descriptor. “Electronic smoking device” also includes any component part of a product, whether or not marketed or sold separately, including but not limited to, e-liquids, e-juice, cartridges, or pods.

C. “School property” means all facilities and property, including land, whether owned, rented, or leased by the Board, and also includes all vehicles owned, leased, rented, contracted for, or controlled by the Board and used for transporting students, staff, or visitors.

D. “Tobacco product” means any product containing, made, or derived from tobacco or that contains nicotine, whether synthetic or natural, that is intended for human consumption, whether chewed, smoked, absorbed, dissolved, inhaled, snorted, sniffed, or ingested by any other means, or any component, part, or accessory of a tobacco product, including but not limited to: cigarettes, electronic smoking devices, cigars, little cigars, and other kinds and forms of tobacco.

IV. General Policy Statement

A. Students are prohibited from possessing, using, consuming, displaying, or selling any tobacco products, tobacco-related devices, electronic smoking devices, imitation tobacco products, or lighters at any time on school property or at any school related or school-sponsored event.

B. Administrators, staff, or visitors are prohibited from using, consuming, displaying, activating, or selling any tobacco products, tobacco-related devices, imitation tobacco products, or lighters at any time on school property or at any school related or school-sponsored events. This includes products or paraphernalia displaying industry brands.

V. Exception to this Policy

A. A school principal may permit tobacco products to be included in counseling, educational, instructional or research activities in the school building; provided that, the activity is conducted or supervised by a District employee overseeing the instruction or research and the activity does not involve smoking, chewing, vaping, or otherwise ingesting the product.

B. A person may use or possess a product that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for sale as a tobacco cessation product, as a tobacco dependence product, or for other medical purposes, and if the product is being marketed and sold solely for such an approved purpose.

VI. Notification of Policy and Implementation

It is the responsibility of District and School administrators to provide:

A. Appropriate “No Tobacco” signage will be posted in a manner and location on all District property that adequately notifies employees, students, parents, visitors, and the public of this policy.

B. Written notice to students and parents/guardians in student handbooks and orientations.

C. Written notice in staff handbooks, in orientations and employee or staff trainings, and when offering employment.

D. Reminder announcements of this policy at school and District events, as appropriate.

E. Written notice of the prohibition as provided in this policy in contracts with outside groups who use the school buildings and other facilities.

VII. Tobacco Promotion Prohibited

A. Tobacco advertising is prohibited on school grounds, in all school- sponsored publications, on District vehicles and buses, and at all school- sponsored events. It is a violation of this policy for any person to promote tobacco products on the school property or at any school related or school sponsored events via the display of images of tobacco products on gear, technology accessories, bags, clothing, any personal articles, signs, structures, vehicles, flyers, or any other material.

B. Acceptance of Tobacco Industry Gifts is Prohibited. The Policy prohibits the district from soliciting or accepting gifts, contributions, materials, or curricula from the tobacco industry.

VIII. Educational and Cessation Programs for Students and Employees

A. Prevention Education for Students. The administration will consult with the Safe Schools Department and other appropriate health organizations to identify and provide programs or opportunities for students to gain a greater understanding of the health hazards of tobacco use and the impact of tobacco use as it relates to providing a safe, orderly, clean, and inviting school environment. The administration will ensure that students in grades K-12 receive tobacco prevention education using sequential, age appropriate, current, accurate, evidenced based curricula and a skills- based approach (involving students in active "hands on" learning experiences).

B. Cessation Support Programs for Students. The administration will consult with appropriate health organizations to provide students and employees with information and access to support systems, tobacco use cessation programs, and services to encourage them to abstain from the use of tobacco products.

C. Prevention and Cessation for Employees. Employees shall be advised as to the availability of related services available to them.

IX. Enforcement

The success of this policy depends upon the thoughtfulness, consideration, and cooperation of the entire school community. All individuals on school premises, including students, staff, administrators, and visitors, are responsible for adhering to and enforcing this policy. Members of the school community are encouraged to communicate this policy with courtesy and diplomacy. Any person acting in violation of this policy will be informed or reminded of the policy and asked to comply.

A. Students. Consequences for engaging in prohibited behavior shall be as provided in the Student Code of Conduct.

B. Employees. Consequences for employees who violate the tobacco use policy will be in accordance with personnel policies or any relevant collective bargaining agreement.

C. Family members, volunteers, or visitors. Family members, volunteers or visitors who violate the policy must immediately discontinue using the tobacco product or electronic cigarette, or leave the premises. Law enforcement officers may be contacted to escort the person off the premises if the person refuses to leave the school property when requested to do so by District personnel.