Board approves health and personal finance textbooks after debate over vaping content

The Hardy County Schools board approved health and personal finance textbook adoptions after members raised a content concern about whether the health text explicitly addressed vaping and other nicotine-containing products.

A board member pointed to language on a review page indicating examples such as alcohol, drugs, nicotine-containing substances, sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy, and noted the book’s review did not specifically call out vaping. That member said the omission was important because vaping products’ branding and terminology change rapidly and students need explicit coverage.

Staff responded that the adoption committee rated the textbook as meeting requirements (the instructor reviewer noted the vaping omission), and that publishers update digital editions and issue corrections annually; teachers also have the right to supplement classroom materials. The staff member identified which modules contain nicotine-related content and said digital rollouts will reflect updates when released by the publisher.

Costs and logistics: Board discussion estimated printed textbook prices roughly in the $175–$200 range per copy, though exact figures vary by format; the district typically purchases classroom sets to match seat occupancy and manage scheduling rather than buying individual copies for every student.

Committee membership: The personal finance adoption was reviewed by Adam Simmons and Stacy Pelis, who will be the teachers using the curriculum.

What’s next: The district will proceed with orders and coordinate classroom set deployment; staff said digital updates from publishers will be monitored and teachers may add supplemental content to cover gaps in the interim.

Provenance: Discussion begins at SEG 505 and continues through SEG 616 where adoption motions were finalized.