FILE: GAMB
Cf: EB
EMPLOYEE SMOKING, TOBACCO, AND MARIJUANA USE
Smoking and use of tobacco products has been identified as one of the most critical health problems in the United States. It is the leading cause of premature death, disease, and chronic disability in the country. Smoking can be hazardous to the health of both smokers and non-smokers alike. For smokers, it can contribute to heart attack, stroke, hypertension, emphysema, and several forms of cancer. Non-smokers can be affected by breathing the toxic by-products that tobacco smoke can add to the air. Smoking is the single largest preventable cause of mortality.
The Iberville Parish School Board is dedicated to providing a healthy, comfortable, and productive environment for its students, staff, and citizens. The School Board believes that education has a central role in establishing patterns of behavior related to good health, and shall take measures to help its students in resisting tobacco use. Curriculum related to tobacco use prevention has been developed and implemented at all grade levels in Iberville Parish Schools. The School Board is concerned about the health of its employees, and also recognizes the importance of adult role modeling for students during their formative years.
The Iberville Parish School System shall be declared a smoke-free environment. The use of any tobacco product, or marijuana products in any form, smokeless tobacco, or any smoking object/device, including but not limited to electronic cigarettes, advanced personal vaporizers, vape pens, vape mods and similar devices, shall be prohibited on and in all Iberville Parish School Board property and vehicles, and at all school-sponsored or school-approved functions. However, this prohibition shall not be applicable to any tobacco product approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for sale as a tobacco cessation product and which is marketed and sold solely for such purpose.
School Board property shall include any elementary or secondary school buildings or grounds, buildings, portable buildings, field houses, stadiums, equipment storage areas, vacant land, or any other property owned, operated, or leased by the School Board all school buses, and all School Board owned vehicles.
ENFORCEMENT
The success of this policy shall depend on the thoughtfulness, consideration, and cooperation of smokers and non-smokers. All individuals on school property share in the responsibility for adhering to and enforcing this policy. Any individual who observes a violation on school property should report the violation to the proper authority on the site.
Violations shall be treated as follows:
First violation - verbal reprimand
Second violation - a written warning with written copy being placed in the violator's personnel file
Third violation - violator's immediate supervisor shall refer the violator to the Superintendent or his/her designee for appropriate disciplinary action
Fourth violation - violator shall be considered to have committed an act of willful neglect of duty, and appropriate disciplinary action shall be recommended by the Superintendent to the School Board.
Employees may also be referred to a tobacco-cessation counseling service.
Approved: January 16, 2007
Revised: December 11, 2017
Revised: August 12, 2024
Ref: 20 USC 6083 (Nonsmoking Policy for Children’s Services)
La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:240, 40:1291.1, 40:1291.2, 40:1291.3, 40:1291.11, 40:1291.21
Board minutes, 8-9-93, 1-16-07, 12-11-17, 8-12-24
Iberville Parish School Board