OCEAN CITY – Mark Napoleon, interim principal at Ocean City High School, said a letter he sent to parents in mid-October about vaping in the high school was part of his process to keep them aware of issues affecting students.
“I want to improve communication the best that we can,” he said, adding he has sent about three emails, including one about vaping and another about attendance.
“Vaping is a concern with all schools, not just Ocean City,” he said. “The product itself, all of the materials, can only be purchased by someone who is 21. We have students here in the district that are vaping. It has been part of our concern here just like in every high school.
“These vapes are liquid form and can contain THC or other substances that are harmful to a student’s health. As the administrator of a high school … if you see an issue that is throughout the United States, it is your job to communicate your concerns to parents.”
He said the school is planning an assembly in November that discusses vaping and is related to the national smoke-out.
“We’re no different than any other school district,” he said about the problem of students vaping. “It’s my job to communicate positives and negatives and if there is a health concern, which this is. That’s all it was. A communication. And we go by the drug policy here at the school and I sent that out as well.”
The substance abuse policy in the school district reads, in part, “A student who uses, possesses, or distributes alcohol or other drugs will be subject to discipline in accordance with the district’s Code of Student Conduct. School authorities also have the authority to impose a consequence on a student for conduct away from school grounds in accordance with the provisions of N.J.A.C. 6A:16-7.5. Discipline may include suspension or expulsion.”
A parent who sent a letter to the editor of the Sentinel (see story here) was concerned because he said his child was afraid to use the bathrooms because of pressure from upperclassmen to try vaping. The letter-writer said the principal called the rate of vaping “alarming” and that there were instances of students selling vape hits of nicotine and marijuana. The parent asked for vape detectors in the bathrooms.
Napoleon said not having the letter he sent in front of him (the email system was down when he was contacted), he wasn’t sure if he used the term “alarming” about vaping at the high school. “It could have been,” he said, adding it is a concern, “but our concern is like any other high school.”
As for the aspect of selling vape hits, he said, “I don’t want to get into the intricacies of what we’re dealing with. I don’t want to speculate.” Napoleon said administrators want to keep certain aspects “close to the vest” to help them stay ahead of the problem. He also said he couldn’t discuss individual cases.
Napoleon said the previous district in which he worked had vape detectors.
Asked if he would recommend them for Ocean City High School, he said there isn’t a plan for that yet. Napoleon said that decision had to be made by the administration as a group because it requires budgeting and training, among other factors.
“There is a whole group of questions that we have to answer first,” he said. “You just can’t snap your fingers. With proper planning you can get it done within a six-month to a year timeframe.”
Going back to his focus on communication, he said bringing the vaping issue to parents’ attention is meant to help resolve the problem.
“The additional thing is where are they getting it?” he asked about vaping products.
“With parents’ assistance, you may be able to stop them from getting these materials,” he said. “If I can let parents know that we are concerned, they can ask their children where they are getting it.”
“This is my 33rd year in education, half of that in administration. If you want something done, if you want to correct student behavior, and prevent a problem, that is why you send out that communication,” Napoleon said. “And you continually address it with students.”
“We’re not going to be able to change the behavior if we’re not honest. It’s all about transparency.”
“Personally, I feel if you don’t stop it now, or make people aware of the dangers, there’s addiction,” he said. “Students can be addicted to nicotine.” He pointed out that can cause some immediate health and wellness impacts on young people or harm years later.
Overall, Napoleon said the school district has had multiple programs to address a range of issues.
The school holds presentations on violence and vandalism; harassment, intimidation and bullying; and drug abuse – “all those negative things that people want to discuss openly.”
He noted the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office conducted a 45-minute assembly last week for all the students that talked about all those issues, including cyber bullying, inappropriate use of the internet and cell phones.
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff