Vaping is so bad at a school, principal is closing some bathrooms, using metal detector wands

The Brevard County School Board said it is seeing a steady rise in the number of students bringing vapes to school and using the devices on campus. (Credit: WESH via CNN Newsource)

The Brevard County School Board said it is seeing a steady rise in the number of students bringing vapes to school and using the devices on campus.

“This is a pandemic that I would say is worse than cigarettes,” school board Chairman Matt Susin said. “It’s so available to children, and there are things inside those vapes that nobody even knows what they are.”

The school board voted last week to put specific disciplinary actions in place that also tie into educational resources.

“They have to go through classes that help them understand what they did. They have to make sure they’re not addicted, and if they are, then we find them that career path and counseling,” Susin said. “It’s a whole system that’s set up so that the student is actually improved and brought back into the school.”

At Melbourne High School, the principal has taken even stricter measures.

In a letter to parents, the principal said he is taking steps to address vaping on campus by doing two things.

First, the school recently decided to close a limited number of restrooms to monitor student behavior and reduce vaping incidents. Staff will monitor the restrooms during class periods and passing times. Custodial teams will also check in.

“There’s multiple people going into a stall, and then inside the stall, they’re vaping and passing the vape to each other,” Susin said.

Additionally, Melbourne High School will now use handheld metal detector wands to conduct searches related to possible drugs or weapons.

Districtwide, new technology could be implemented to help detect vape use inside restrooms.

“We’re going to ask the Legislature to pass a law that states that we’re able to monitor through AI devices, not record,” Susin said. “It’s constantly monitoring, and once it detects a sound, it triggers and alerts school district employees.”

Susin acknowledged this could be controversial and that there might be legal limitations. For now, it is under review.

Students caught with a nicotine vape could face in-school suspension. Students found with a marijuana vape will be suspended and required to take classes virtually, according to Susin.