Dearborn Public Schools combat teen vaping with new vape detectors
Since there is sometimes no odor left behind, vaping is an extremely hard habit to break. So how can educators and other staff members identify vaping students?
(FOX 2) Dearborn, MichiganUsing vape detectors, a school district in Metro Detroit is attempting to prevent students from vaping on campus.
It is difficult to believe that kids are currently impacted by three epidemics: drinking, smoking, and vaping. In the meanwhile, Dearborn Public Schools is taking action against vaping, which they claim is not unique to Dearborn.
“This is not a problem that is unique to our schools or our district – this is a problem that is faced by schools and districts and communities across our entire country right now,” said David Mustonen, our Communications Director.
Since there is sometimes no odor left behind, vaping is an extremely hard habit to break. So how can educators and other staff members identify vaping students?
As a solution, Dearborn Schools installed Halo Vape Detectors in the restrooms along with software.
Director of Health Safety and Security Danielle Elzayat stated, “The Halo Cloud enables the device to communicate with our administrators here in the building via a Halo Cloud app – actually alerts our administration, or whoever you decide to have setup on it, that somebody is vaping in the bathroom.”
In the spring of 2024, it all began as a pilot program at Dearborn High School. Grant funds were used to sponsor that initiative.
Assistant Principal Hussein Beydoun stated, “Obviously, these vape detectors have been so effective that in just a few weeks, we’ve seen a drastic decrease in the amount of notifications that we received.”
Because the detectors were so successful, the program was extended and is currently supported by general fund funds. Vape detectors are currently being placed in the restrooms of Edsel Ford High School and Fordson High School.
Edsel Ford has 16 devices, Fordson has 22, and Dearborn High School currently has 14.
However, they do have a price tag; each one costs roughly $2,100.
Students who are caught vaping will be suspended for three days.