Vape sensors detect nearly 300 incidents at campuses

CLOVIS – Officials last week activated sensors to detect vape use and said they recorded nearly 300 incidents at two secondary campuses of Clovis Municipal Schools.

“While district awareness of the growing prevalence of vaping among youth nationwide and locally led to the purchase of the detection system, the sheer quantity of detection alerts is incomprehensible, particularly when the system is not yet operating at full capability,” school officials stated in a news release.

The district is in the process of installing additional sensors and they will soon be active at all secondary schools, including middle schools, the freshmen academy and the high school, according to the release.

The release stated students caught vaping at school will face disciplinary action.

The sensors will be active throughout common areas frequented by students, the release stated.

“Procured in an effort to deter the use of vapes by students … (t)he sensors are part of an active monitoring system which tracks air quality on campus and alerts staff when vapes are used,” the release stated.

“In addition to standard vape or e-cigarette detection, the system also detects and identifies THC vape use – 10 occurrences of which have been documented during the system installation phase.”

District officials are encouraging parents and guardians to talk with their students about vape use, the dangers and the consequences should they get caught, according to the release.

“The aim of the district in utilizing the technology is not to create a punitive climate, but rather to deter vape use by students overall and particularly on campus,” the release stated. “While taking steps to eliminate vape use on campus is a critical part of curbing use by the youth of our community, these measures will only be effective through partnership between families and schools.”

Consequences for students caught in possession of or using a vape device on campus range from disciplinary referral to expulsion for repeated or extreme offenses.

“Additionally, in the event devices containing THC are suspected or identified, law enforcement will be contacted to investigate and charges may result separate from school disciplinary action,” the release stated. “Our district’s zero tolerance policy addressing drugs, alcohol and tobacco includes vape use.”

Students found tampering or damaging a sensor device may face disciplinary action and incur financial responsibility for the cost of the repair, according to the release.