PROHIBITION AGAINST SMOKING

The Meriden Board of Education (the “Board”) prohibits smoking, including smoking using an electronic nicotine delivery system (e.g., e-cigarettes), electronic cannabis delivery system, or vapor product, within any of its schools, including in any area of a school building, including but not limited to any indoor facility owned or leased or contracted for, and utilized by the Board for the provision of routine or regular preschool, kindergarten, elementary, or secondary education or library services to children, or on the grounds of such school, or at any school-sponsored activity.

The following definitions shall apply to this policy:

“Any area” shall mean the interior of a school building and the outside area within twenty-five feet of any doorway, operable window or air intake vent of a school building.

“Cannabis” shall mean marijuana, as defined in Conn. Gen. Stat. § 21a-240.

“Electronic cannabis delivery system” shall mean an electronic device that may be used to simulate smoking in the delivery of cannabis to a person inhaling the device and includes, but is not limited to, a vaporizer, electronic pipe, electronic hookah and any related device and any cartridge or other component of such device.

“Electronic nicotine delivery system” shall mean an electronic device used in the delivery of nicotine to a person inhaling from the device and includes, but is not limited to, an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe or electronic hookah and any related device and any cartridge or other component of such device, including, but not limited to, electronic cigarette liquid or synthetic nicotine.

“School-sponsored activity” shall mean any activity sponsored, recognized or authorized by the Board and includes activities conducted on or off school property.

“Smoke” or “smoking” shall mean the burning of a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe or any other similar device, whether containing, wholly or in part, tobacco, cannabis or hemp.

“Vapor product” shall mean any product that employs a heating element, power source, electronic circuit or other electronic, chemical or mechanical means, regardless of shape or size, to produce a vapor that may or may not include nicotine or cannabis and is inhaled by the user of such product.

The Board further prohibits smoking including smoking using an electronic nicotine delivery system (e.g., e-cigarettes), electronic cannabis delivery system, or vapor product on the real property of any administrative office building. Real property means the land and all temporary and permanent structures comprising the district’s administrative office building(s) and includes, but is not limited to storage facilities and parking lots.

Legal References:

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-233a(h)
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-342
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-342a
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 21a-415
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-344b
June Special Session, Public Act No. 21-1
Pro-Children Act of 2001, Pub. L. 107-110, 115 Stat. 1174, 20 U.S.C. § 7183

ADOPTED: November 17, 2015
Amended: September 1, 2020
Amended: November 15, 2022