The consequences of having vaping products in public schools statewide will be more severe than in the past due to new state legislation, and Dickens and Kent county schools are no exception.
Beginning September 1, any student found to be in possession of vaping products will receive mandatory placement in a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP). The mandate was part of House Bill 114, which amended a section of the state education code related to student discipline.
The Texas Spur talked with administrators from the three schools serving our readership area—Spur, Jayton and Patton Springs—about how they will be implementing the new state mandate.
“Vaping is a pandemic with our kids,” said Craig Hamilton, Spur ISD superintendent, “but we’re giving them reasons to not use it. We’ve invested in vaping detectors, and now, with HB 114, it’s mandatory that any student in possession of any kind vaping materials will be automatically sent to DAEP.”
Hamilton likened the dangerous trend to one from generations past. “You know, it’s not like when we were young and if you were thinking about smoking,” said Hamilton, “you might have second thoughts if you were trying to choke down a Marlboro Red. Now the manufacturers are trying to get the kids addicted with flavors like Coca-Cola and bubble gum.”
“We have a real issue with it,” Hamilton said. “First of all, it’s illegal for kids to even be able to purchase it. But somehow, they find a way to get it.”
Students placed into disciplinary alternative education programs are forbidden from any extracurricular activities, such as attending sporting events, club meetings, or school social occasions. They are forbidden from being on any part of the school premises, that is not the DAEP facility. They cannot go to lunch with classmates, and they cannot take the bus to school.
The DAEP facility in Spur is adjacent to campus, across the street from the school.
Spur schools will be implementing accelerating discipline for vaping infractions. According to Hamilton, the first infraction will result in five days in DAEP; the second, 10 days; the third, 15 days; and four or more will be 45 days.
Hamilton said that last year Spur had between 8 to 12 vaping incidents across the school system.
At JGISD, interim superintendent Johnny Tubb and principal Nathan Branum talked about how they had installed vaping detectors in their restrooms and locker rooms as well.
In discussing HB 114, Branum said that even though the legislature mandated DAEP for vaping infractions, the local school districts still had the flexibility determine the length of stay in DAEP for vaping infractions.
Branum said that in 2022-23 JGISD had no known vaping infractions. “Year before last, we had five,” he said. “It’s really a compliment to our students and parents that we have not seen these occurrences. However, it’s one of those problems that you don’t know if you have it, until you see it.”
Branum said the if there were to be vaping infractions at JGISD, the length of time to be spent in DAEP would be on a case-to-case basis.
Patton Springs superintendent Bryan White said that his school hadn’t made their plans yet for vaping policies, but they would be figuring out a way to comply with the state mandate.
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