From the cover
Tackling teen vaping
The breakdown
Put in perspective
According to JISD staff, these sensors will help catch students vaping by detecting smoke in the restrooms. In the 2022-23 school year, JISD reported 520 incidents related to vape devices.
At the beginning of the 2023-24 school year, SCUCISD officials installed vape sensors at Samuel Clemens High School and Steele High School. Sensors are also being installed at Allison L. Steele Enhanced Learning Center. On Nov. 14, the Judson ISD board of trustees voted to install 50 sensors in high schools across the district, including Judson High School, Veterans High School and Wagner High School. JISD spent $144,260 on the sensors, including two extra sensors should one of the schools need them. SCUCISD purchased 16 sensors.
In 2023, 10% of high school students across the country reported the use of tobacco products, according to the National Youth Tobacco Survey done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of the 6.21 million students who reported using tobacco products nationally, nearly 75% of those were in high school. Ernie Reynolds, executive director of secondary education for Schertz-Cibolo- Universal City ISD, said there have been instances of students caught with devices containing nicotine and THC, which is the psychotropic compound found in marijuana, in the district. However, district officials did not provide data on the number of incidents they’ve dealt with.
Judson ISD incidents
2022-23
2023-24 Incidents as of Jan. 24
Nicotine
114
52
THC
406
237
NOTE: SCUCISD INCIDENT DATA UNAVAILABLE SOURCE: JUDSON ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Number of sensors at each campus Vape stores
Veterans Memorial High School: 16 sensors
What they’re saying
Samuel Clemens High School: 6 sensors
ROY RICHARD DR.
Byron P .Steele High School: 6 sensors
“[Students vaping] has been an issue since my first kid graduated in 2018, and I imagine it has gotten worse.” MELISSA WALTON, JISD PARENT
35
Allison L. Steele Enhanced Learning Center: 4 sensors
Judson High School: 16 sensors
410
1518
410
1604
“I worry that students will continue to [vape] regardless of the consequences,” IVA SMITH, SCUCISD COMMUNITY MEMBER
Wagner High School: 16 sensors
1516
10
N
MAP NOT TO SCALE
SOURCES: SCHERTZ-CIBOLO-UNIVERSAL CITY ISD, JUDSON ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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