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Board reviews vape‑detector pilot data; district staff outline $85,000 approximate 10‑year plan
Summary
District staff presented a vendor trial of ceiling-mounted vape detectors, reported 197 vaping incidents in two bathrooms during the trial window, and outlined estimated costs for a 50‑unit system (installation and subscription) that district staff said could cost roughly $85,000 over ten years.
District staff presented results from a vendor trial of ceiling-mounted vape detectors and summarized peer‑district experience during Tuesday’s meeting, and board members asked about durability, vandalism, warranty and funding.
Marla (student‑services presenter) said two Halo PC3C sensors were installed in high‑school bathrooms for a trial from May 27 through July 31; the cloud dashboard showed 197 vaping or smoking alerts and three “masking” incidents between May 25 and June 15. Marla played a demonstration video that showed the detector triggered by a small amount of visible smoke and described dashboard features that identify building “hot spots,” timestamps and analytics intended to help administrators allocate supervision proactively.
Marla summarized vendor and peer‑district feedback: principals reported the first year of operation required adjustments but many districts saw reductions in incidents within 90 days (one principal reported a 70% reduction); tampering incidents were described as rare in the peer sample (examples included attempts to strike or dislodge a unit). The vendor’s five‑year warranty can be extended to 10 years if the district purchases the cloud subscription; without cloud service, device data retention is limited and units require manual firmware updates.
Cost details presented by staff: approximately $1,700 per sensor when purchase, installation and first‑year cloud subscription are included; an installation estimate of roughly $600 per unit; an annual cloud subscription of about $88 per unit after the vendor’s first free year. Staff said 50 units for four secondary schools (excluding more complex locker‑room installations) would produce an approximate project cost near $85,000 and an annual recurring cost in later years of about $8,500 (rough figures presented). Marla said funding would be sought from safe‑and‑drug‑free‑schools resources rather than general operating cuts.
Board members asked technical questions about water exposure, whether data are downloadable for long‑term records, the possibility of dummy or wireless units as deterrents, and options for tailoring monitoring to events (for example, concerts or evening activities). Several board members urged caution about vandalism and recurring costs; others emphasized student safety and the district’s responsibility to deter dangerous vaping and illicit‑substance use in schools. No procurement vote occurred at the meeting; staff said the trial units remain available through July 31 and they will gather additional information (for example, water‑damage testing and policies for replacement if devices are vandalized) before returning to the board.
