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Board hears support and pushback on tougher vaping, tobacco policy; pilots planned for vape detection
Summary
At a policy workshop trustees reviewed a proposed expansion of the district’s tobacco‑free policy to clarify signage, enforcement and student consequences. Board members and staff discussed pilot vape‑detection programs, signage placement and the balance between discipline and keeping students in school.
Hillsborough County trustees met at a workshop to review proposed updates to the district’s tobacco‑free policy, a change prompted by a rise in student vaping and local pilot programs testing vape‑detection technology.
What staff proposed: The draft policy tightens language about where tobacco and vaping products are banned, calls for district‑wide signage and consistency with state law, and asks staff to align disciplinary responses with the student code of conduct. Staff said the proposed policy formalizes existing practices and includes guidance for schools on communication and response.
Pilot technology and enforcement: District staff described pilots with multiple vendors to test portable vape‑detection units and said data from those pilots will inform any larger rollout. Chief Grimes (district safety/school operations) and other staff noted that principals report having “drawers full of vapes” and that detection and prevention need to be combined with education.
Board response and key concerns: Several trustees voiced support for stronger measures and for clearer notification to families. Board member Vaughn said, “Every single student that I talk to… says the vaping is out of control,” and urged a more aggressive district response that combines prevention, peer education and enforcement. Others urged limiting punitive removals that would keep students out of class; the board asked staff to align discipline with the student code of conduct and to provide clearer written procedures. Member Gray proposed prioritizing signage at campus entry points to be fiscally efficient; Member Rendon recommended linking the policy to the student code of conduct and placing the enforcement language there.
Education and prevention: Staff said vaping prevention curriculum already exists in grade‑appropriate health and substance‑use modules; a district vendor (EverFi) provides a ninth‑grade module called “The Truth About Vaping.” Trustees encouraged peer‑to‑peer prevention strategies and broader family notification at the start of the year.
Next steps: District staff will refine the policy language, clarify which elements belong in the policy versus the student code of conduct or superintendent procedures, and return the item for public hearing with a communications plan and pilot results.
