Prior to the start of this current school year, the Platte County and Park Hill school districts addressed the increase in the usage of e-cigarettes.
The Citizen contacted the area’s four school districts to see how they handle incidents regarding vapes and many of them use a policy similar to that of a traditional cigarette.
Schools throughout the county are changing policies to make the punishment stricter for possession and/or distributing of vapes.
A Nebraska school district, Fairbury, recently approved a measure that will require all students between seventh to 12th grade to submit to random nicotine testing if they want to take part in extracurricular activities.
PLATTE COUNTY
At the July board of education meeting, Platte County added electronic smoking devices to the discipline policy.
Devices include, but are not limited to, electronic cigarettes, vapes, vaporizers, vape pens, hookah pens, JUUL products and e-pipes.
All devices will be confiscated and law enforcement officials will be notified. A first offense will be one to 10 days out of school suspension and referral to superintendent or designee for appropriate disciplinary action. Subsequent offense will be 10 days OSS.
PARK HILL
The Park Hill school district approved changes to the handbook at the most recent school board meeting and had different punishments depending on what school a student attends.
The first offense for distributing, selling, purchasing, transferring or obtaining an e-cig or related paraphernalia violating the tobacco guideline for elementary student is one to five days in-school or out-of-school suspension. A subsequent offense is one to 10 days of OSS with possible recommendation for long-term suspension or expulsion.
In middle school, the first offense is five days OSS and no participation in extracurricular activities during the suspension period. A subsequent offense would be 10 days of OSS with recommendation for long-term suspension or expulsion and withdrawal from all extra curricular activities for the remainder of the school year.
The discipline for high school is very similar to middle school. The first offense is the same, the only added measure is revocation of parking sticker. The subsequent offense is the same as the middle school.
The penalty for possession of an electronic smoking device or paraphernalia, such as a pod or charger, varies based on the school.
At the elementary level, the first and second offense for possession is one to five days of ISS or OSS. A third offense is one to 10 days OSS with recommendation for long-term suspension or expulsion.
At the middle school and high school, the first offense is three days OSS and no participation in extracurricular activities. The high school added punishment of revocation of parking sticker.
The second offense at the middle and high school is five days OSS as well as the no participation in extracurricular activities. The third offense is 10 days OSS with recommendation for long-term suspension or expulsion.
WEST PLATTE
The Weston school, like the two aforementioned schools, has different punishments when it comes to possession compared to usage.
The first offense for possession of a tobacco product or e-cigarette is confiscation of the product, principal/student conference, detention or ISS. A subsequent offense would be confiscation of product, detention, ISS or one to 10 days OSS.
For use of tobacco products, the first offense is confiscation, principal/student conference, detention, ISS or one to three days of OSS. A subsequent offense includes confiscation, ISS or one to 10 days of OSS.
NORTH PLATTE
The Dearborn-based district’s punishment for tobacco could be Saturday school or ISS for the first offense and anywhere from one to 10 days ISS for the second offense for possession or use of tobacco or e-cigarettes. Either offense also includes confiscation and a meeting with the principal/student.
A sale or distribution of illegal substances would be an OSS suspension, while the sale of tobacco products could result in OSS as well but will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Superintendent Matt Karl also noted the district’s policy for tobacco use includes a one game/event suspension for the first offense; a 45-day ban of no games/event for second and then a year-long ban on a third offense.