Dear Parents,
“I think we are on the verge of a Tsunami,” a Minnesota High School Principal recently said in a news article about vaping in his school. He added, “I think this is going to be the defining addiction for this generation.” In November, the chairman of the United States Food and Drug Administration called vaping a “public health tragedy that is now underway,” and in December the U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams declared youth vaping an “epidemic”, while calling out e-cigarette giant Juul as a big part of the problem.
Here at BHS, our concern over our students using vapes and electronic cigarettes has never been higher. Data shows that our office discipline referrals for vaping and possessing vape paraphernalia have already DOUBLED from last year. Schools all over the U.S. have seen an explosion in popularity with vaping, and are scrambling to find solutions. Because of its small size, ease to conceal, and lack of odor, students are not only vaping in private locations such as bathrooms, but boldly in other places as well.
At our school, vaping issues have become a tremendous tax on everyone’s time and a significant classroom disruption. Every time there is a report of vaping, the students are pulled from class, their belongings are searched, and they are questioned about possible misconduct. To give all of you specific data regarding the level of disruption we are experiencing, we searched and discussed vaping misconduct with EIGHTEEN different students on just TWO DAYS earlier this month.
Don’t be deceived. Vape’s are certainly no safe alternative to cigarettes, and schools are seeing a rise in the use of vape’s for other drug use besides nicotine. In January, three Martin County High School students were hospitalized after smoking vape pens that were laced with an unknown, harmful substance. Just a few weeks ago, six students in New Mexico were hospitalized as a precautionary measure after the group became sick after vaping THC distillate. These types of stories, along with evidence we have collected here at BHS, have caused us to become very concerned about our students safety and well-being while using vapes on our campus and elsewhere.
Because of all of the reasons we have outlined above, beginning Monday, the following rule will be adopted:
Any student caught vaping or possessing vape materials will be required to immediately be picked up from school by parents, and will begin a three day Out-Of-School suspension. On the second offense, the student will be suspended for up to ten days and will go before the Gilchrist County School Board with a recommendation for expulsion.
Parents, please talk to your students at home about vaping. We encourage you to look through your child’s belongings, and impress upon them the importance of not bringing these items to school or engaging in this activity while at school. We want to see all of our students experience safe and enjoyable days while on our campus, and gain the high quality education that they deserve so that they can go out and be successful, productive citizens in the future.
Sincerely,
Bell High School Administration (S. Lindsey, B. Douglas, L. Barry)