After a successful pilot program to curb student vaping in bathrooms, Lincoln Public Schools is moving to install new state-of-the-art detection alarms above bathroom stalls at all LPS high schools and middle schools.
These detection alarms look like a smoke detector, but are highly sensitive and have been calibrated to detect nicotine vapors and THC, which is frequently smoked through vape cartridges, and will also sound an alarm if someone attempts to tamper with it.
LPS Director of Student Services Ryan Zabawa says their staff has seen a spike in students being caught with vape devices and smoking in bathrooms. An initial pilot program at Lincoln East High School proved successful, according to Zabawa.
“We had 98 alarms in that first week, which obviously is a lot during the school day… and by the end of our pilot, we only had four alarms,” Zabawa reported.
While it is a consideration among LPS Staff that students are finding ways to vape without triggering the detectors, and while that could be the case, it has curbed students crowding the bathrooms to smoke.
Going forward, the district will be expanding these detectors to other LPS high schools and middle schools, utilizing funds from a class action lawsuit settlement with major vaping brand JUUL.
When a student is caught vaping, Zabawa says their parents are notified and any vape devices the student has in their possession is confiscated. Kids caught are also educated on the dangers of vaping.