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Students and community groups press Abington board on vaping; district cites prevention work and buyback pilot
Summary
High-school students and local prevention partners told the board that vaping in school bathrooms remains widespread. Students asked for more prevention and community enforcement; district officials said they will continue outreach and cited a vape buyback pilot and partnerships with county resources.
Student speakers and community partners raised vaping and substance-use concerns to the Abington Board of School Directors on June 24, telling the board the problem persists on campus despite district mitigation efforts.
What students said Abington Senior High School student Dominic Jones told the board he regularly finds groups of students vaping in restroom stalls and described both nicotine and THC vapes. Jones said a vape buyback program run with school staff yielded some voluntary turn-ins but did not reach the broader number of students he sees daily. He said vaping created a health hazard for students with asthma who must find clean restrooms.
Community partner input Doreesh Joyner of Montgomery County Family Services, who works on substance-abuse outreach, said she has also observed groups of students vaping in bathrooms and described outreach efforts to bring speakers (including the county first assistant district attorney) into the school to raise awareness.
District response and context Superintendent Dr. Fetcher thanked the students for speaking and said administrators take student reports seriously; he said the district will continue to work with student leaders, health staff and county partners to expand prevention and intervention work. Earlier in the meeting the board heard about tiered SEL supports, restorative practices and county grants that fund prevention and safety programming.
What the board asked Board members asked whether the district’s security and school-resource arrangements and training are adequate to address substance use on campus. Officials said contracted school security staff complete basic SRO-type training and participate in district restorative- and trauma-informed trainings; administrators said they meet with the contractor to address individual personnel and performance issues and can request replacements if concerns arise.
Ending Student speakers and partners called for continued focus on lowering access to vapes and increasing prevention education; administrators said they will coordinate further with student leaders, counseling staff and county partners for assemblies and outreach in 2025–26.
