Vaping paraphernalia on display as Superintendent Dr. Laurie Burkett and Board Chair Missy Jarrard listen as administrators detail the vaping situation in the schools. (photo/wrwh.com)
There’s an epidemic hitting White County Middle and High Schools… it ’s connected with the excessive use of E-cigarette or vaping.
The White County Board of Education heard an in-depth report Thursday night from a group of school administrators who have been dealing with this situation in which an increasing number of students are using the devices that administer nicotine and were intended to help adults to quit smoking.
In some cases, these students can get these devices that have more than just nicotine.
The vaping devices are prohibited at the school but some students still bring them to school, in some cases with the assistance of their parents who purchase the devices. There have been some incidences were the vaping has resulted in situations where medical personnel have been dispatched to the school.
The Middle and High school administrators had some recommendations for the board to consider in dealing with the situation.
White County School Superintendent Dr. Laurie Burkett, who praised the administrators for their work in looking at this situation, said we’re at a crisis and something has to be done. “We must communicate with parents, we must communicate with students, we must communicate with teachers and educate them on the dangers of vaping,” she said.
The school system will hold two public information sessions on this issue on February 19 and 21st.
Board of Education Vice- Chair Charlie Thomas said, “If this doesn’t solve the problem we will take it to another step.”
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