In an effort to address student safety and health concerns, Mesa Public Schools in Arizona is stepping up its game by installing vape detectors across all its middle and high school bathrooms. This initiative is in response to a rising discomfort among students regarding the use of vapes on school premises. "When I hear students tell me they don't feel safe going into a bathroom, that really bothers me," said Allen Moore, the district's safety and security director, in a statement obtained by ABC15.
The move is not solely focused on vaping; the board also gave a nod to weapons detectors, ensuring a robust approach to campus security. These measures come after deliberations and feedback from students across the district. "Our students do want to feel safe," Assistant Superintendent Randy Mahlerwein told KJZZ, emphasizing the emphasis on student well-being.
Vape detectors piloted at Red Mountain High School have shown promising results, leading to a broader implementation. As a result, students are increasingly cautious, and alerts have decreased, highlighting the program's effectiveness. "It definitely has been a deterrent," Jason Grantham, an assistant principal at Red Mountain High School, shared with ABC15.
In the intricate dance of school safety, the sensors play a pivotal role without invading privacy—they do not record audio or video but simply detect vape chemicals. Mesa Public Schools aims for inhalation of education, not of vapor, with Moore stating, "I don't really want to catch anybody. I want the message to get out there that we put vape sensors in our bathrooms because we don't want you to vape in our bathrooms," in a statement to ABC15. Mesa is not standing alone in this venture, as other districts like Peoria Unified are also employing the technology.
The district's approach seems to echo student voices looking for reassurance in their educational spaces. A testing phase is planned to take place at Skyline High School before the system is unrolled to other campuses next spring, Holly Williams, an associate superintendent, stated in an interview with KJZZ. This development follows the school district voters' decision earlier this month to turn down a $500 million bond question that would have funded such safety equipment.
