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Calvert superintendent reports 22% drop in behavioral incidents but 20% rise in vaping cases
Summary
The superintendent of Calvert County Public Schools told the Student Safety and Well‑Being Advisory Committee that total behavioral incidents are down 22% year‑to‑date, while tobacco and vaping incidents have increased about 20%; the committee requested more data and approved an evening public listening session.
The superintendent of Calvert County Public Schools told the Student Safety and Well‑Being Advisory Committee on Jan. 14 that the district has seen a 22% decrease in total behavioral incidents through Jan. 14 compared with the same period last year, while tobacco and vaping incidents rose about 20%.
The superintendent said the district introduced a package of policy changes — including a ban on personal electronic devices, targeted dress‑code enforcement (such as prohibiting hoods that obscure faces) and regular code‑of‑conduct assemblies — and attributed the overall decline to those measures and increased staff attention. “Calvert County Public School experienced a significant 22% reduction in total behavioral incidents through January 14 compared to the same period in the previous school year,” the superintendent said.
Why it matters: the numbers show a broad decline in classroom disruption, attendance problems and some safety incidents, but the rise in tobacco and vaping incidents prompted concern because vaping can be concealed and was flagged as increasing despite broader behavioral improvements. The superintendent said the district is treating vaping as a priority for targeted prevention and enforcement.
Committee members asked whether the increase was a real rise in student vaping or an artifact of new detection tools. “That is possible,” the superintendent said, explaining the district piloted vape detectors in high schools and has placed detectors in middle schools, which could increase reported incidents. Members asked for more granular data on tobacco versus other substances; the superintendent said he could supply breakdowns and additional arrest/referral reports on request.
The superintendent also said arrests in schools were down and that referrals to the Department of Juvenile Services remain low; he offered to provide monthly arrest reports and suspension/expulsion data to the committee. He cited a Windy Hill Middle School mid‑year student climate survey showing that 82% of students feel safe at school and discipline referrals at that school were down roughly 43% year‑to‑date.
Public engagement and enforcement: committee members and staff described coordinated compliance checks with state police and the sheriff’s office at retail locations; one member reported 51 stores were checked and seven failed compliance checks. Tammy from the health department summarized local penalties for tobacco retailers: “Their 1st offense, they get a $300 fine. Their 2nd offense is $1,000. Their 3rd offense is a $3,000 fine. They do get sent after the 2nd offense to the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission” for a review of possible license suspension.
Next steps: the committee asked the superintendent to provide the requested detention/referral, suspension and climate‑survey data and discussed community outreach to address vaping. During public comment, resident Claire Hill volunteered to assist with outreach and urged the committee to add education about child human trafficking to future agendas.
The committee approved a Jan. 29 evening public listening session to allow public presentation and comment and said it will use those community responses to inform subcommittee work and district follow‑up.
