Perkiomen Valley board debates detectors, police dogs and stiffer penalties to combat student vaping

Board members spent an extended portion of the meeting discussing reports of pervasive vaping and drug use in district restrooms and exploring both technological and disciplinary responses.

Mister Sailor described reports from multiple students that the third floor of the high school was a concentrated location for vaping, including a claim that students had been 'vaping with their head in the toilet, blowing the smoke in the toilet, in the toilet water.' He said the problem reduces instructional time and raised the need for solutions that may be ‘‘steep’ but that 'do solve the issue.'

Doctor Russell said the district is researching options and will coordinate with law enforcement. He told the board he had asked the chief of police to consult with state police to determine whether drug‑sniffing dogs can detect vape products and said the district has been testing vape detectors tied to cameras: 'The detectors are inside the restroom. The cameras are positioned outside of the restrooms... When those detectors inside the restrooms detect vape, they send a signal to our principals... If they don't get there in time... we have the camera footage that can be reviewed.'

Board members proposed a range of responses: targeted hardware (detectors and sealed-roll rubber floors), operational changes (teacher spot checks of restrooms, increased adult presence), and stiffer administrative penalties (removal from extracurriculars for offenses). Several members emphasized balancing accountability with attention to students' social‑emotional needs; others argued for firm, uniform consequences to avoid inconsistent treatment. The discussion produced no immediate policy change but administrators were asked to return with more information about detector technology, law enforcement guidance about dogs, and potential disciplinary policy or handbook changes.

The board also discussed whether policy or handbook language should explicitly treat vaping and nicotine‑containing devices as tobacco products to enable stricter consequences; administrators and counsel noted some legal nuances regarding possession versus purchase and the need to align policies with school code and practice.