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II. I. Smoke-Free Schools Policy
The RI Gen. Laws § 23-20.9-1 et seq. "Smoking Restrictions in Schools Act" of 1992 (Public Law 92-230), effective September 1, 1993, prohibits the use of any substance or item which contains tobacco, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or other smoking tobacco, or the use of snuff or smokeless tobacco by all people, children or adults, who utilize Rhode Island school buildings at any time of the day or night. It also prohibits having in one's possession a lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe or other substance or item containing tobacco.
Tobacco product use is prohibited in all areas of nonresidential school buildings (K-12), public or private. This includes, but is not limited to, all school playgrounds, school administration buildings, indoor school athletic facilities, school gymnasiums, school locker rooms, school buses, other school vehicles, and other school buildings whose use is not primarily residential. In addition, tobacco product use is prohibited in all outside areas within twenty-five (25) feet of any school building.
The West Warwick School Committee encourages all its employees and students in the West Warwick schools, who presently use any substance or item which contains tobacco and/or products outlined above, to refrain from using such products and/or to attend a smoking cessation program.
The West Warwick School Department maintains smoke-free schools. All people, children or adults, who utilize West Warwick schools are prohibited from using, at any time of the day or night, any substance or item which contains tobacco, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, or other smoking tobacco, or the use of snuff or smokeless tobacco and are prohibited from possessing a lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe or other substance or item containing tobacco. Violation of this policy may result in appropriate disciplinary action.
Policy Adopted: 09/13/93
Visitors who are observed smoking or using tobacco products in school buildings may be informed of the RI Gen. Laws § 23-20.9-1 et seq. "Smoking Restrictions in Schools Act" and may be asked by anyone in the school to refrain from smoking or using tobacco products. If the individual fails to comply with the request, his or her violation of policy shall be referred to the building principal or the personnel responsible for the area in which the violation occurred. The building principal or personnel responsible for the area may make a decision on further action which may include a directive to leave the school building. Repeated violations may result in a recommendation to be Superintendent of Schools to prohibit the individual from entering the school building for a specified period of time.