At the program education Phillips High School students about vaping are, from left, Bear Creek Police Officer Noah Markham, Phillips School Resource Officer David Richards, Alabama Cooperative Extension Service Regional Extension Agent Elaine Softley and Bear Creek Police Chief Eddie Collins.
BEAR CREEK - A recent break-in at Phillips Schools was one of the factors behind a recent educational program warning students of the dangers of vaping.
A juvenile allegedly forced open a window leading into the area of the high school principal’s office then forced entry into the principal’s office and allegedly took a bag of vapes the principal had confiscated from students, emphasized Bear Creek Police Chief Eddie Collins.
“(The principal) confiscates vapes all the time,” Collins pointed out.
Since a school function was taking place at the time the break-in occurred, no security alarms sounded, according to Collins.
Due to this incident and the vaping issues in schools, Collins worked with new Phillips Schools resource officer David Richards, Elaine Softley with the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service and school administrators for a program Wednesday, May 1, warning students about the dangers of vaping.
“There is a nationwide, if not worldwide, issue with vaping among teens,” stated Phillips High School Principal Dr. Al Temple. “It’s not just a Phillips High or a Bear Creek issue.”
When a student is found in possession of a vape, the vape is confiscated and the student’s parents are contacted, with the student facing in-school suspension, according to Temple.
“If it turns into multiple times, then it could elevate to out-of-school suspension or even further,” Temple pointed out.
See complete story in the Northwest Alabamian.
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