Ever since the new vape detectors were installed in the high school last March, school administrators, along with other staff members, have agreed it’s been successful in its ability to enforce school rules and prohibit vaping.
“Many school principals within the area have reached out to ask about the detectors being a worthy investment, especially when they have cost $2,000+ per one,” said Milton High School Assistant Principal Mr. William Campbell.
According to Mr. Campbell, he responded that though they were expensive, the vape detectors have been a necessary cost.
“Ninety five percent of the time the detectors had gone off, percent of the students with a vape in possession were caught,” added Mr. Campbell.
Mr. Campbell said 43 high school students and 61 middle school students from the school years of 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 have been recorded to be caught vaping. More than half of these students were caught during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school year. After the vape detectors were installed, Mr. Campbell said there was a decrease in vape related incidents. As for this current year. Mr. Campbell added five high school students and three middle school students were found with a vape.
According to High School Principal Mr. Micheal Bergey, students caught with a vape are placed on suspension for their first offense, then following a second or third offense will be taught by a school nurse why vapes are not safe for the students, and any offense past the third could result in expulsion.
Mr. Bergey said that he believes vapes and dab pens are becoming normalized because society has deemed it as the new way of smoking. They are also marketing it toward younger demographics, playing a larger influence on the youth, he added.
Although there have been discussion of metal detectors being installed to search students in possession of not only vapes, but also weapons, there are no plans of this according to the School Safety Administrator, Ms. Catherine Girton.
