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Anaheim Union High School District officials are installing sensors in Cypress and Loara high schools in an effort to stop students from smoking and vaping.
It comes after a drop in vaping among young people across the country, according to a report released late last year by the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“In 2024, 2.25 million middle and high school students reported current use (use on one or more days during the past 30 days) of any tobacco product, compared to 2.80 million in 2023,” the report found.
Earlier this month, school board members unanimously voted to approve the purchase of $75,120 of vape sensors as part of a pilot program to stop students from smoking on campus during their March 6 meeting.
Assistant Superintendent Jaron Fried said the purpose of the sensor was to prevent kids from vaping in bathrooms.
“It’s not just something to reduce vaping in terms of catching, but ideally, it’s more proactive in preventing folks from doing it,” said Fried during the meeting.
For one year, the cost of equipment, software, and installation will be $75,120, and in the following years, it will be $4,023 annually for both schools, according to thestaff report.
“Ongoing costs will be minimal,” Fried said at the meeting.
District officials plan to install the sensors in bathrooms and locker rooms shortly after the purchase is completed, and the sensors should last roughly seven years, according to district spokesperson John Bautista.
The sensors will be able to detect other tobacco products. They will be linked to an app available to administrators and campus security, alerting staff immediately if anything is detected, according to Fried.
According to the staff report, Anaheim Union High chose sensors called HALO because they integrates directly with the existing security camera system.
“HALO is the only product that can alert and differentiate between vaping, vaping with THC, and intentionally masking vaping behavior by using aerosols to cover up vaping,” said Bautista in an email. .
Executive Director of Educational Services Robert Saldivar discussed other benefits the sensors will provide to keep the campus’ safe in the board meeting.
Saldivar said the software in the sensors can also detect sounds above normal noise levels, which can alert staff to things like arguments and fights.
Fried notes the sensors do not have cameras and won’t violate privacy laws.
Instead, they will work alongside the already available security cameras placed outside to help with the identification of the student if staff do not reach the location in time.
“We used to have the [drug detection] dogs come once a month, but this is every day,” said Fried.
The district has additional measures to educate students on the dangers of vaping, such as Red Ribbon Week and the Alternative to Suspension program, which encourages self-reflection in students aimed at healthy, drug-free decisions, according to Bautista.
The district is using a pre-existing contract through the California Multiple Awards Schedule with Blue Violet Networks to make the purchasing process quicker, according to the agenda.
As of now, Cypress and Loara High Schools are the only two that have requested the installation of vape sensors. They will serve as pilot schools before any districtwide installations are considered.
“Additional installations are dependent on pilot outcomes as well as funding implications,” Bautista said.
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