Vape detectors to be installed in high school restrooms

by Judy Stringer

March 15 board of education meeting

Hudson High School Principal Brian Wilch told the school board that HALO vape detection sensors will become its newest stopgap to the rising use of electronic smoking devices among students.

Wilch said the HALO sensors can detect fumes from vaping devices and even alert administration when the devices contain the marijuana compound THC.

“Our intent is to flip that risk-reward equation and make it much more likely that using a vaping device in an area of perceived privacy, such as a restroom, could trigger an investigation in real time, possibly leading to code of conduct violations and discipline,” he said.

The principal noted that vaping devices are small and easy for students to conceal and often emit a fruity flavor that dissipates quickly, making it difficult to detect their use. In some cases, he said, they have even been used in classrooms where students hide them in their sleeves.

Wilch also said the vaping products typically contain more nicotine than conventional cigarettes, posing a greater risk for addiction. And, he said, students often believe they are a safer alternative to smoking.

The HALO devices are part of a larger substance abuse education program aimed at teens and their parents. According to Pupil Services Director Kelly Kempf, Hudson schools recently received a $48,000 prevention education grant from the state of Ohio. In addition to the HALO detectors, the grant will fund materials and training needed to implement Girls Rock!, a program designed to provide prevention and intervention services for middle school and high school girls; a parent lending-library of materials on substance abuse; and parental access to a substance abuse education/prevention webinar series that will be available in the spring.

Wilch said plans are to have two HALO detectors installed in each bathroom at the high school by April 6, when students get back from spring break. While there are no cameras in the restrooms, cameras outside of those facilities will help identify students after a detector is triggered.

Students caught using vaping devices with nicotine get a five-day out-of-school suspension. That can be reduced to a two-day in-school assignment, he said, if the student agrees to enroll in a “smoking cessation course.”

The aim with the HALO detectors, Wilch added, is to give students “an out” – much like the high school’s use of breathalyzers for entrance into school dances. As in the case of the breathalyzers 12 years ago, he said the HALO implementation will be well publicized, so that teens have an excuse to say no when peers are pressuring them into risky behaviors.

“We would hope that we’re not going to see many incidents where the light goes off, and we’re checking kids in the restroom,” he said.

Hudson schools may also soon have a grant aimed at increasing the representation of people of color on its staff, according to Nyree Wilkerson, the district’s diversity, equity and inclusion coordinator.

Wilkerson said Hudson was tentatively approved for a three-year, $70,000 diversity in education grant from the state. Minorities and people of color currently make up only 3 percent of the district’s staff compared to about 15 percent of its student population.

“At a minimum, we would like for our workforce to mirror our student population, which would be 15 percent staff of color,” she said.

Diversity is important, Wilkerson added, not only to students of color in terms of the impact of that representation but to all students.

“We’re sending them out into a diverse world and into a diverse workplace,” she said, “and so it is in their best interest that we expose them to a diverse school setting.”

The grant would fund initiatives both externally – like those aimed at getting more people of color to apply for jobs in the district – and internally – such mentoring and support services to advance educators of color in the district. Wilkerson said more specific information will be shared once the grant approval is finalized.

COVID update

Superintendent Phil Herman said COVID cases in the schools are trending down, reflecting decreases across the county. There were four positive cases in the week of March 4, he said, down from 19 cases in the first week of February.

“In talking with the health department, we will be watching for possibilities of surges in the coming months due to the variants,” Herman said, adding that “with the exception of a small number of staff,” the district’s workforce largely has been vaccinated. Second doses were administered on March 5.

Old Middle School

Herman said the fate of the former Hudson Middle School will be discussed at board work session in April. At that time, the district should have a value appraisal of the building in addition to two demolition bids – one for demolishing the entire building and a second for leaving the 1927 portion intact for redevelopment while taking down the rest of the facility.

He also said school officials “are still in the listening phase” regarding feedback and comments from the most recent redevelopment plan for the site. In November, Liberty Development had proposed constructing up to 35 residential units, including 18-23 condominiums inside the 1927 portion and 12 homes around it. Based on community concerns, the company this month released a scaled-back version that reduces the number of units to a total of 14. This plan would only salvage the front third of the 1927 structure. The developer would construct five two-story townhomes inside the salvaged section and eight carriage-style homes behind it and rehab an existing house on the front lawn.

Winter Sports Update

HHS boys and girls swimming and diving team captured Suburban League championships, said Athletic Director Mike Chuppa. The district is also home to two Suburban League Athletes of the year: Mackenzie DeWitt, swimmer of year in the national division; and Isabella DiTullio, diver of the year in that same division. DiTullio was also sectional diving champion.

Matt Davis was named the league’s and the district’s coach of the year for swimming and diving, and three teams – gymnastics and boys and girls swimming and diving – qualified for state competitions.

At states, the girls swimming and diving team finished in fifth place overall. Top finishes include: the 400 freestyle relay team of Carrie Caniglia, Eliana Szabo, Lucy Reber and Mackenzie DeWitt, second; the 200 freestyle relay team of DeWitt, Szabo, Caniglia and Peyton Binns, third; DeWitt, third in 100 backstroke and fourth in 100 butterfly; and Reber, fourth in 100 individual medley.

For the boys’ state results, the 200-medley relay team of Dylan Albrecht, Alex Gallagher, Andrew Ketler and Seth Baylor placed ninth; Baylor placed ninth in the 100 butterfly and 10th in the 500 freestyle; and Gallagher placed sixth in 100 breaststroke and 12th in 200-individual medley.

Hudson gymnasts ended their season with a fourth-place win at the state meet. Laurel Gomersal placed 11th on floor and 19th all-around. Lindsey Havens placed 17th on beam and 24th all-around.

Other winter sports highlights:

• Hockey team was a three seed in the Barron Cup and went 2-2 in post-season play.

• Wrestlers took fifth place at Euclid sectionals and had seven district qualifiers. Aiden McStay placed sixth at districts. In its legislative agenda, the board approved gifts in the amount of $13,200 for high school golf studio and the Hudson Community Education and Recreation summer 2021 brochure. ∞