Local school district utilizing new tool to crack down on teen vaping

TARENTUM, Pa. — Highlands School District is tackling the problem of vaping head on.

According to our partners at the Trib, the district is installing vape detectors in bathrooms at the middle and high school.

“Bathrooms are a big spot, and then some kids sneak it into classrooms too,” Zack Pelescak tells Channel 11 News.

If vapor is detected, security or staff will get an alert sent right to their phones. The district can even test what’s in the vape cartridge. If it’s marijuana, it will result in an expulsion.

“I don’t know about stop it, it would make it a lot harder and probably get more people caught,” Pelescak adds. “Maybe make them second guess bringing it to school.”

Joseph Falcon is a retired doctor and applauds this step.

“I think all the schools should be doing that,” Falcon tells Channel 11. “I’ve been pushing all of my patients for years not to be smoking of any kind - whether it’s the fake cigarettes or real cigarettes.”

The Trib says the district will also use a new system to track the frequency of students using a hall pass, so it limits the number of kids outside of the classroom or in the bathroom.

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