1. The Marlborough School Committee is dedicated to providing a healthy, comfortable, and productive environment for staff, students, and citizens. The School Committee believes that education plays a critical role in establishing life-long health habits for its students. A comprehensive health education curriculum, K-12, emphasizes the dangers associated with the use of tobacco products. The Marlborough School Committee also has a strong interest in the health of its employees and their serving as positive role models for students. Therefore, the Marlborough School Committee prohibits the use of tobacco products by all adults and students in all school buildings, on all school property (fields, parking lots), and on all school buses and vehicles.

Tobacco products shall mean all substances containing, made or derived from tobacco or nicotine, including without limitation cigarettes, cigars, little cigars, chewing tobacco, pipe tobacco, snuff, electronic cigarettes, electronic cigars, electronic pipes or other similar products that rely on vaporization or aerosolization. The use of tobacco products includes, without limitation, smoking, chewing, absorbing, dissolving, inhaling, snorting, sniffing, ingesting, vaping, or otherwise consuming tobacco products. In addition, any products that simulate tobacco consumption, including but not limited to vaping, smoking or chewing, are also prohibited under this policy.

2. The success of this policy will depend on the thoughtfulness, consideration, and cooperation of all tobacco users and non-tobacco users. All individuals share in the responsibility for adhering to and enforcing this policy. Any individual who observes a violation of this policy may report it in accordance with the procedures listed below.

A.        Students – Any violation of this policy by students shall be referred to the building administrator or their designee and will be subject to student discipline procedures as delineated in the appropriate Student Handbook.

B.        Staff – Any violation of this policy by staff members shall be referred to the Superintendent or Superintendent’s designee. First time violators will be issued a verbal warning, with a notation of this verbal warning placed in the personnel file. Second and third offenses will result in written warnings, with a copy placed in the personnel file. Further violations will result in disciplinary action up to and including suspension or dismissal.

The Marlborough School Committee will, from time to time, provide information regarding tobacco cessation programs and the employee assistance program for employees.

C.        Citizens – Citizens who are observed using tobacco products in school buildings or on school grounds shall be asked to refrain from doing so. If the citizen fails to comply with the request, the matter shall be referred to the Building Administrator who is responsible for the site on which the offense occurred. The Building Administrator shall decide on further action which may include reporting the citizen to the Board of Health and/or prohibiting that citizen from entering school property for a specified period of time. If deemed necessary, the local police may be called upon by the principal to assist with the enforcement of this policy.

Legal Reference: M.G.L. c.71, §37H; M.G.L. c.270, §6.                        

Approved: 5/28/19

Approved: 7/24/24