CLARK COUNTY, Ind. — Greater Clark County Schools (GCCS) has installed new environmental sensors inside its schools to detect when students vape inside the building.
Administrators say their top priority is keeping students safe and this new device will help them do just that.
"We have to keep kids safe," Jeremy Shireman, project management director, said. "It's another tool in our tool belt."
The device can detect smoke from vape devices, loud noises and unusual movement. Once a sound erupts or a vape pen releases chemicals, the sensor sends an alert to school leaders' phones.
"Us being able to respond to a situation that could become more of a concern is the reason we implemented them," Shireman said.
He said the district plans to use settlement money from Juul to pay for the detectors.
The popular vape product company is sending millions to several states after it advertised its products to teens and mislabeled the nicotine content in its products.
"Not every student understands what is in that vape that they're using. They don't understand the chemicals they're putting in their bodies," Shireman said.
Right now, only five Great Clark County schools have the new sensors. Officials said the goal is to eventually have them installed district-wide.
GCCS isn't the only southern Indiana school district to have installed similar sensors.
Clarksville Community Schools have three environmental sensors installed at Clarksville High School, according to the district's Facebook page.
Clarksville officials plan to install a total of 10 sensors at different schools.
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