4320 - Tobacco Products ## Tobacco Products - Students
The Avery County Board of Education is committed to creating safe, orderly, clean and inviting schools for all students and staff. The board also supports state laws that prohibit the sale or distribution of tobacco products to minors. The board also supports state and federal laws that prohibit the use of tobacco products in school building, on school campuses, and in or on any other school property owned or operated by the school board. For the purposes of this policy, the term “tobacco product” means any product that contains or that is made or derived from tobacco and is intended for human consumption, including all lighted and smokeless tobacco products, along with as well as electronic cigarettes vaporizers, and other electric smoking devices even if they do not contain tobacco or nicotine..
Prohibited Behavior
In support of the board's commitments and state and federal law, students are prohibited from using or possessing any tobacco product (1) in any school building, on the school campus, and in or on any other school property owned or operated by the school board, including school vehicles; (2) at any school-related activity, including athletic events; or (3) at any time when the student is subject to the supervision of school personnel, including school trips.
Nothing in this policy prohibits the use or possession of tobacco products for an instructional or research activity conducted in a school building, provided that such activity is conducted or supervised by a faculty member and that the activity does not include smoking, chewing or otherwise ingesting tobacco.
Consequences
The disciplinary consequences for violations of this policy shall be consistent with Section D of policy 4300, Students Behavior Policies. The superintendent or designee shall list in the Code of Student Conduct the specific range of consequences that may be imposed on a student for violations of this policy. In determining appropriate consequences for violations of this policy, school officials are encouraged to identify programs or opportunities for that will provide students with a greater understanding of the health hazards for the tobacco user, the hazards of secondhand smoke, and the impact of tobacco use on efforts to provide a safe, orderly, clean and inviting school environment.
Services For Students The administration shall consult with the county health department and other appropriate organizations to provide students with information and access to support systems and programs to encourage students to abstain from the use of tobacco products. The school system may, from time to time, provide free non-smoking programs and services to students in the schools.
D. Notice
Students shall be provided notice of the information in this policy through the Code of Student Conduct, student handbooks or other means identified by the principal. In addition, the principal shall post signs in a manner and at locations that adequately notify students, school personnel, and visitors about prohibitions against the use of tobacco products in all school facilities, on school grounds, and at all school-sponsored events.
Legal References: Pro-Children Act of 1994, 20 U.S.C. 6081 et seq.; G.S. 14-313; 115C-47, -288, - 307, -309.2, -407
Cross References: Student Behavior Policies (policy 4300), School Plan for Management of Student Behavior (policy 4302), Smoking and Tobacco Products (policy 5026/7250)
Adopted: 2001-12-03
Revised: 2007-11-13 2008-10-06 2014-04-08 2016-12-13