HOWELL – Howell Township School District recently made changes to its policy to account for the increased presence of vaping devices in schools.
The amended policy adds the terminology “any cartridge or other component of the device or related product” to address vaping and electronic cigarette usage. The policy emphasizes that smoking can be related to a “lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe, or any other matter or substance which contains tobacco or any other matter that can be smoked,” now including electronic smoking devices.
Electronic smoking devices such as vapes, or the popular brand JUUL, has seen increases in usage over the last few years. According to recent studies, twice as many students are choosing “vape” devices over traditional cigarettes.
The issue with a lot of these products, according to local school districts, is that administrators and school staff may not be able to tell what is inside the device; whether it is tobacco or perhaps an illegal substance.
Howell schools took action to proactively address the increase in vape popularity by prohibiting their use on school grounds, and even on school transportation.
The new policy also changed the term “school bus” to “any vehicle supplied by the board” so that the policy can be enforced on all school transportation.
According to the school board, smoking of any kind is prohibited in school buildings, on school grounds, at school-sponsored events at or away from the school, and on any transportation vehicle supplied by the board.
Students caught with vaping devices will have them confiscated and handed over to Howell Police for testing, as well as undergo a drug test.
Students who violate the policy may be subject to various programs such as counseling or smoking information programs.
