FILE: JCDAA
STUDENT SMOKING AND TOBACCO USE
Students shall not be permitted to have tobacco products (such as all forms of smokeless tobacco, cigarettes, cigars) and/or tobacco paraphernalia as well as non-tobacco smoking substances and smoking instruments (e.g. electronic cigarettes) in their possession, nor are they allowed to use or possess tobacco and tobacco paraphernalia and/or non-tobacco smoking substances and smoking instruments on the school grounds, in school facilities during the school day, or at school activities held in school facilities after school hours, or when riding school buses to and from school or a school function away from school. Parental permission for any form of tobacco use or to have tobacco paraphernalia does not exempt a student from this policy.
Tobacco use includes smoking, chewing, dipping, or any other use of tobacco products. Smoking refers to inhaling, exhaling, burning or carrying of any lighted or heated tobacco product, as well as non-tobacco smoking substances and smoking instruments (e.g. electronic cigarettes).
Upon violation of this policy, a student shall be suspended according to the Plaquemines Parish Discipline Handbook, which stipulates a three (3) day suspension for the first offense and the requirement to attend two (2) educational sessions on tobacco at the Plaquemines Office of Addictive Disorders in company with a parent. Failure to complete the educational sessions will result in further suspension. Additional refusal to comply will result in the recommendation of a misdemeanor summons through the court.
PROCEDURE
The principal/assistant principal will:
Confiscate the tobacco product/paraphernalia and place it in an evidence collection envelope.
Call the parent/legal guardian of the student to come to the school for a conference on the day of the infraction.
Suspend the student for the required number of days.
Assign and explain the educational sessions which are mandatory for both the student and a parent to attend.
Schedule the first session with the Plaquemines Office of Addictive Disorders.
Have the parent sign the appropriate documentation.
Make a copy of the signed documentation.
Call and send a copy of the signed documentation to the Safe and Drug-Free Schools Department in central office.
During any random searches of school buses or other school property, if a tobacco product/paraphernalia is visible or found, students in question will be subject to the above policy.
Revised: March, 2007
Adopted: November 1, 2010
Revised: August 4, 2014
Ref: 20 USC 6083 (Nonsmoking Policy for Children's Services)
La. Rev. Stat. Ann. ยงยง17:240, 17:416, 40:1291.3, 40:1291.11
Board minutes, 3-07, 11-1-10, 8-4-14
Plaquemines Parish School Board