STOCKTON, Calif. — They were walking around with backpacks, books, water bottles and even instruments Thursday, but two things that the thousands of students at Stockton's Lincoln High School can't have are vapes and e-cigarettes.
"We are a no tobacco school district," said Lincoln Unified School District media specialist Tyler Heberle. "We have a no-tolerance policy for tobacco products."
The regulations are in place, but high schoolers don’t always listen.
"We certainly have seen high school students in years past and even recently this school year, vaping on campus, in particular, the bathrooms," Heberle said.
So now, Lincoln Unified is using scent to make sure students stay healthy.
"We, at the beginning of this school year, installed vape sensors in the bathrooms at our high school campuses, Lincoln High School and Village Oaks. These sensors are designed to pick up vapors that are sometimes emitted from devices such as e-cigarettes and vape pens," Heberle said. "If a vapor is detected that fits the criteria, a message is sent to administrators on campus."
If administrators find the vape on a student walking out of the bathroom, discipline will follow.
"They will be referred to a six-week drug, vape and smoking counseling," Heberle said. "In terms of the second and potentially third uses of a vaping product, disciplinary measures that we can use may include detention or suspension, or if a severe illegal substance is found, expulsion is something that can happen."
Lincoln Unified declined to provide any photos of the sensors, saying that they are designed so that students wouldn't know what they look like.
"They are put in hidden locations, obscured locations," Heberle said.
Hidden or not, parents like Connie Best applaud the district's move.
"We should try it," said Best while waiting to pick up her son Thursday. "I think it's a great idea. I worry about my son; he's a freshman."
District officials said they are still monitoring vaping data, any possible problems with the sensors and whether they should be added to other schools. The district will hold a public meeting on Wednesday evening at Lincoln High to answer parent questions about the sensors.
"We're in this together," said Heberle. "We appreciate the support we've gotten from (parents)."
Watch more from ABC10: Lincoln Unified School District implements cell phone ban for new school year
