Sanilac County News

Popular Categories

Sanilac County schools crack down on vaping




Joshua Stern

Joshua Stern

An increase in vaping is prompting many Sanilac high schools to strengthen their policies against the practice.

Deckerville High School is one of the most recent schools to implement a stricter policy.

Deckerville principal, Josh Stern, said that he and other high school principals have been concerned about a rise in vaping among students.

“The vape is super addictive to the kids,” Stern said, “They just are super addicted to it and the tobacco companies and the ones that are (manufacturing vapes) are nice enough to put it in very good flavors like strawberry and bubblegum which is obviously marketed toward kids. It’s a huge problem.”

Stern said about two years ago, Deckerville High School received a grant to install vape detectors in bathrooms. Though he feels that these are successful, he knows that middle school and high school students will still try to find ways around the barriers the school puts in place.

Stern warned, “I tell most of the parents, you have to almost suspect your kid is doing it because so many kids are doing it.”

The new policy, which was announced on Nov. 1 and put into effect on Nov. 8, will involve police intervention.

“We have decided to work with the Deckerville police department to issue a student an MIP (minor in possession) if that student is caught with a vape,” Stern explained, “The problem is that the vaping is an epidemic among these kids. It is out of control. What we’re really trying to do is put a little more teeth.”

Stern explained that the school will continue to issue a five-day suspension for students who are caught vaping, but hopes that the potential fine and trouble with law enforcement will discourage students from violating the rule.

While the court will ultimately decide the amount of the fine, Stern said he has heard it can range anywhere from $50 to $300.

Since the new policy has taken effect, Stern says he has only received positive responses from parents. The school has not yet had a vaping infraction under the new policy.

This school year, Stern says there have been six instances of students caught vaping on school property, but he says that students are “getting smarter too” and knows the school can’t catch every infraction.

In addition to the new policy, Deckerville uses education in an attempt to prevent students from vaping. Posters detailing the harmful effects of vaping decorate the halls and visiting law enforcement officers have given talks on the dangers of vaping.

Deckerville isn’t the only high school to make this change to their vaping policies.

Sandusky High School adjusted their policies at the Nov. 15 board meeting. The high school will now contact the Sandusky Police Department after a student’s second vaping offense. Repeat offenders will be issued a citation in addition to school discipline.

For first-time offenders, students may receive a three-day suspension, then a five-day suspension and finally a ten-day suspension. Steve Carlson, Sandusky High School Principal, also mentioned that students will be referred to a substance abuse counselor.

The reason police are not notified on the first offense, Carlson said, is because “this allows a student to have the chance to make a mistake and learn from it with a first offense, with only the school providing any consequences (plus the support from the substance abuse counselor).”

Carlson mentioned that the decision to change school policy came after multiple discussions with Sandusky Police Chief Brett Lester and the school’s administration team.

Michelle Campbell, principal of Carsonville-Port Sanilac High School, said that their school has a similar policy.

The CPS student handbook states that the minimum consequence for use of tobacco or vapes is a three-day suspension and “legal action.” The maximum response from the school may result in a long-term suspension or expulsion along with “legal action.”

The handbook states that students who are found distributing tobacco or vapes may face a seven-day suspension with “legal action,” and at the most may receive a long-term suspension or expulsion and “legal action.”

Federal law made vaping illegal for those under 21 years in 2019.

Though often marketed as a healthier alternative to smoking, increasing evidence suggests that vaping can negatively affect one’s health, especially teens.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, e-cigarettes are considered unsafe for children, teens and young adults since most of them contain nicotine. The CDC further adds that nicotine is harmful for adolescent brain development which continues to the early to mid-20s.