ADC, Tobacco Free Schools

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To promote the general health, welfare and well-being of students and staff, smoking, chewing or any use of any tobacco or nicotine product by staff, students and members of the general public is prohibited on all district property.

Possession of any tobacco or nicotine product by students is also prohibited on district property.

As an educational organization, the Thompson School District will discourage students from using tobacco by providing positive adult examples and effective anti-tobacco educational programs.

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

1. "District property" means all property owned, leased, rented or otherwise used by or contracted for by the district, including but not limited to the following:

   1. All indoor facilities and interior portions of any building or other structure used for students or children under the age of 21 for instruction, education or library services, routine health care, daycare, or early childhood development services, as well as for administration, support services, maintenance, or storage. The term does not apply to buildings used primarily as residences, i.e., teacherages.

   2. All grounds over which the district exercises control, including areas surrounding any buildings, playgrounds, athletic fields, recreation areas and parking areas.

   3. All vehicles used by the district.

   4. At a district sanctioned activity or event.

2. "Tobacco product" means:

   1. Any other product that contains nicotine or tobacco or is derived from tobacco and is intended to be ingested or inhaled by or applied to the skin of an individual, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, snuff, chewing tobacco, or liquid nicotine/e-liquids; and

   2. Any electronic device that can be used to deliver nicotine to the person inhaling from the device, including but not limited to an electronic cigarette, cigar, cigarillo or pipe.

   3. “Tobacco product” does not include any product that has been approved by the appropriate federal agency as a tobacco use cessation product.

3. "Use" means lighting, chewing, smoking, ingesting, inhaling, vaping, or application of any tobacco or nicotine product.

Signs will be posted in prominent places on all district property to notify the public that smoking or other use of tobacco products is prohibited in accordance with state law and district policy. This policy will be published in all employee and student handbooks, posted on bulletin boards and announced at staff meetings.

Any member of the general public considered by the superintendent or designee to be in violation of this policy will be instructed to leave school district property. Employees found to be in violation of this policy will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.

Disciplinary measures for students who violate this policy may include, but are not limited to in- house detention, revocation of privileges, and exclusion from extracurricular activities. Students may also be recommended for substance use prevention education. Repeated violations may result in suspension from school. In accordance with state law, no student will be expelled solely for tobacco use.

Adopted August 3, 1994
Revised July 8, 1998
Revised January 21, 2009
Revised September 19, 2012
Revised October 15, 2014
Revised January 20, 2021

Legal references

20 U.S.C. 7181 et seq. Pro-Children Act of 2001
C.R.S. 18-13-121 (furnishing tobacco products to minors)
C.R.S. 22-32-109(1)(bb) (policy required prohibiting use of tobacco products on school grounds)
C.R.S. 22-32-109.1(2)(a)(I)(H) (policy required as part of safe schools plan) C.R.S. 25-14-103.5 (tobacco use prohibited on district property)
C.R.S. 25-14-301 (Teen Tobacco Use Prevention Act)

Cross references

IHAMA, Teaching About Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco
JICG, Tobacco Use by Students
KF, Community Use of School and District Facilities
KFA, Public Conduct on School District Property or at School Activities JKB, Detention of Students