The Limestone County school system has invested more than $130,000 into vape detection systems in bathrooms and school areas over the last year.
Schools Superintendent Randy Shearouse told Huntsville television station WAFF hundreds of students were caught vaping out of 5,000 students in the district. He said repeat offenders were sent to alternative schools with programs in place to help them kick the habit.
Shearouse also admitted that investigating the vaping incidents in the schools was time consuming for administrators.
“When you get a detection that someone’s vaping in the restroom, it takes a lot of time to investigate that. To question kids because a lot of times by the time the assistant principal makes it down to the entrance of the restroom, the child’s either done something with the vape or flushed the vape,” Shearouse said. “So that’s taken more time to deal with it, I think. But I think it’s worth the extra time because we’re helping deter students from vaping.”
According to WAFF, parents support the measures to keep their children from using harmful vape products.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP
