This NC high school will close half of its restrooms after disruptions caused by vaping
Leesville Road High School is shutting down half of its restrooms for the rest of the school year because so many students are setting off fire alarms by vaping in the bathrooms.
The Raleigh high school has dealt all school year with the disruption of fire alarms going off because of vaping.
In a message Monday to parents, Leesville Road principal Ian Solomon said the school is shutting down multiple restrooms because none of the other steps it has used has curbed the alarms.
“As a result, effective today, we will be closing off half of the restrooms on campus for the remainder of the year to reduce the number of spaces that have to be monitored,” Solomon told parents. “With more than 2,600 students that attend Leesville Road High School, this step is one that I have tried to avoid, given the ramifications that this decision will cause.
“However, with end of year testing and graduation related events occurring, this course of action must be explored in tandem with our teachers continuing to give up a portion of their planning periods for the remainder of the year to monitor the remaining restrooms we will keep open.”
The problems at Leesville Road highlight the challenges schools have in trying to curb the use of e-cigarettes by teens.
The vaping ‘epidemic’
E-cigarettes are electronic devices that utilize a liquid laced with nicotine that produces a vapor that users inhale. Their popularity caused the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to declare an “epidemic” of underage vaping among young people.
Last week, the Wake County school board approved a $6.2 million settlement with e-cigarette giant Juul that will be used to curb vaping addiction in students. School leaders said the settlement will provide additional resources to address youth vaping and youth nicotine use in the district.
North Carolina has already won a $40 million settlement against Juul, the first state to challenge and force change in how Juul targets teens with its marketing. Juul has been settling lawsuits with states, counties, towns and school districts across the country.
Teachers watching restrooms
In September, Solomon sent parents at least two emails about how the school was being disrupted due to frequent false fire alarms. Solomon warned that the students causing these disruptions because of vaping could receive long-term suspensions, which would last for more than 10 days from school.
But Solomon told parents Monday that not even harsher penalties have deterred students from vaping.
“During this year, we have tried numerous proactive and reactive measures to address this issue, including increased disciplinary consequences, having teachers give up a portion of their planning periods to cover bathroom areas, and exploring if we have the appropriate detection system in place, Solomon said in Monday’s update. “To date, none of these steps have curbed the alarms.”
The decision to shut down so many restrooms comes as the school year is nearing an end.
“It is my hope that a long-term solution can be found to ensure that moving forward we are not having this situation go into the 2023-24 school year,” Solomon said.
This story was originally published May 1, 2023 at 2:23 PM.
