GREENVILLE. N.C. (WNCT) — Pitt County Schools approved the installation of vape detectors for their middle schools back in May.
An operations update from the school district says the detectors will be installed at the end of October. Nearly 100 devices are being installed across the county. The first pilot program for the detectors was successful at Farmville Middle School.
A separate bid will allow Pitt County Schools to expand the use of detectors, the main goal being to keep everyone safe.
The board approved the purchase of vape detectors following the outcome. They cost around $1,000 each from an annual subscription fee. The funds used to pay for these will be from a lawsuit filed two years from an electronic cigarette manufacturer.
“Middle Schools is where you first see that chance to try vaping. Where we see those issues, we see them show up primarily. Our first main indicator is actually unfortunately in the plumbing system will respond to a a call for toilets not flushing and find that the vape pen is actually what’s been blocking the the sewer system,” said Aaron Erickson, Executive Director of Operations at Pitt County Schools.
