By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
School districts continue to enhance ways to combat vaping in their buildings. At Monday's USD 431 Board of Education meeting, Hoisington High School Principal Joel Mason outlined the use of SwabTek technology for the upcoming school year. The cotton swabs can be used to detect THC in refillable vape devices.
"Swab that with this swab and drop something on it," Mason explained. "If it turns purple, that's positive for THC in that oil. I think we'd be really surprised on how much we probably have in our buildings."
Current district policy is a 1-3 day suspension on first offenses for vape devices that contain nicotine. That suspension is bumped to 5-10 days for first-time offenses with vape devices containing THC or other illicit drugs.
"That SwabTek, in itself, won't stand up in court as far as criminal charges against that student," Mason said, "but that does give me reasonable suspicion to extend that student's suspension for having THC as opposed to just nicotine."
Mason also reminded the board that law enforcement is contacted whenever a vape device is found so evidence can be obtained for any legal matters.