Parent tells school board vaping is worsening; urges more hall monitors at East Columbus
Summary
A public commenter urged the board to address vaping at East Columbus schools, argued that combining middle and high school on one campus worsens behavior, and called for hiring hall monitors instead of spending on phone devices.
During the public comment period, Ellis Nanton told the Columbus County Board of Education he was at the meeting because of an incident involving his daughter and vaping devices. Nanton said the school environment at East Columbus is problematic because the middle school and high school share a campus, which he said encourages younger students to emulate older students' behaviors. He urged the board to hire hall monitors and questioned expenditures on phone-monitor equipment, saying the money could have been used for additional personnel.
Nanton emphasized parental concern and accountability, said the situation needed to be "rectified now," and told the board he would return to the next meeting if he did not see changes. The board acknowledged his comments; no formal action was taken at that time during public comment.
