Vaping

The Windber Area School District is dedicated to fostering a supportive environment that nurtures and empowers our students, prioritizing their safety and well-being. Amidst growing concerns about vaping prevalence among young individuals, both locally within Somerset and Cambria Counties as well as in Pennsylvania, the district remains vigilant. Reports of associated health complications on a national scale further underscore the urgency of addressing this issue.

Here are several initiatives underway within the Windber Area School District to tackle the challenges posed by vaping and to offer tailored resources to diverse stakeholder groups.

Disciplinary Policy and Consequences Related to Vaping

The Windber Area School District prohibits the possession, use, purchase, or sale of tobacco and vaping products as defined above by or to students at any time in a school building, on school busses or other vehicles owned, leased, or operated by the District, on property owned, leased, or controlled by the District, or at school-sponsored activities that are held off school property.

The Board prohibits student possession or use of products marketed and sold as tobacco cessation products or for other therapeutic purposes, except as authorized in the Board’s Medication policy.

The Board prohibits student possession of any form of medical marijuana at any time in a school building; on school buses or other vehicles owned, leased, or controlled by the school district; on property owned, leased, or controlled by the school district; or at school-sponsored activities that are held off school property.

The Board authorizes the confiscation and disposal of products prohibited by this policy.

Communication

This Tobacco and Vaping Policy shall be posted in the school office and published on the WASD website, student handbooks, Code of Student Conduct, parental newsletters, posters, and by other efficient methods. No Smoking and No Vaping signs shall be posted at school entrances, in restrooms, and other locations where students, staff, and teachers gather.

Enforcement

Nicotine dependence makes smoking and vaping cessation extremely difficult. Programs such as the American Lung Association’s Intervention for Nicotine Dependence:

Education, Prevention, Tobacco, and Health (INDEPTH) and Not-On-Tobacco (N-O-T) provide resources, education, and support for students struggling with nicotine addiction.

Students found in violation of this Tobacco and Vaping Policy shall have the tobacco product or device defined above confiscated and disposed of by the school’s School Resource Officer. This property shall be considered forfeit and not subject to be returned. Additionally, the student be subject to the following consequences:

First Offense: Three days of In School Suspension (ISS) and enrollment in the IN-DEPTH program (4 sessions) focused on tobacco use, nicotine dependence, establishing healthy alternatives, and making the change to be free of all tobacco products.
Second Offense: Three days of ISS and enrollment in the Smokeless Saturday program. Referral to District Magistrate.
Third Offense: Three days of ISS, referral to the District Magistrate, loss of privileges for 45 days.
Fourth Offense: Three days of ISS, referral to the District Magistrate, loss of privileges for 90 days.
Multiple Offenses: The usage or possession of nicotine substances and/or vapes may result in alternative placement and a citation referral to the District Magistrate.

Tier 1 Programming and Supports

Tier 2

Parent Resources

Student Resources