Board hears rising vape and drug incidents, transportation strain and food‑service updates
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Summary
District leaders reported increases in marijuana and controlled‑substance possession at schools, a new local resource for nicotine vaping addiction, transportation driver shortages with waiting lists for special‑needs routes, and food‑service participation and garden successes.
District administrators used the Dec. 16 Griffith Public Schools board meeting to outline student supports, safety trends and operations.
A district safety presenter told trustees that drug‑ and vape‑related incidents are the leading category of criminal activity reported in the first semester comparison; the presenter said drugs and vapes account for about 54% of incidents and that possession charges for marijuana (including vape devices) and controlled substances have increased, while nicotine vape seizures have declined. The presenter said the district is pursuing three responses: arrests through the criminal system, civil referrals to team court, or referral to resources, and highlighted that staff identified a new local resource to help students addicted to nicotine vaping.
Food service supervisor Tiffany Oman reported October participation rates and average daily meals (high school 78.6% participation and 846 meals per day; Barrigger 78.64% / 295 meals; Wadsworth 64.25% / 270 meals). Oman described the school garden, its use in cafeteria menus (caprese salad, sauteed zucchini, pesto pasta) and said Griffith does not practice “lunch shaming”; students with negative accounts receive the same meal while the district communicates with families about unpaid balances.
On transportation, the board heard a report read on behalf of Transportation Director Danielle Ascona showing current ridership totals (district total 903 students transported), special‑needs riders (~62), waiting lists for multiple routes (examples: HS waitlist 14; middle school waitlist 10), and a fleet of 14 large and 5 mini buses. District staff said continuing driver shortages since 2020 and increased special‑needs and out‑of‑district placements are creating transportation pressure and may require enforcing or expanding walk zones.
District maintenance and custodial leaders described facilities work including LED lighting retrofits, painting and carpet replacement, and identified a NIPSCO boiler preventive‑maintenance program estimated at about $16,000 in cost recovery.
What’s next: Administrators said the district will continue to expand local resources for vaping cessation, explore transportation policy and staffing solutions, and proceed with operational projects described by buildings and grounds.