Osceola County School District is taking a significant step to combat student vaping, planning to install vape detectors across multiple middle and high schools using money from the county’s opioid settlement fund.
The school board is set to approve an agreement with the county to use $191,885 in opioid settlement funds to create the vape detection program. The district says the program is a critical early intervention strategy to address risk factors associated with substance use disorder among youth and aligns with the broader prevention goals tied to opioid settlement funding.
Roy Lynch, a grandfather whose grandchildren are enrolled in the district, said he was surprised vaping has reached the point of warranting the investment.
“To be honest with you, I didn’t know that it was such a problem. But if it is, then anything that could detect it and help keep my kids out of it will be most appreciated,” Lynch said.
He added his support for the district’s decision.
“If whatever information they got in the case that that is what’s needed, then they should do it,” Lynch said.
Parent Taelor Handley said she had already heard about the growing issue through educators close to her.
“My mom is a high school teacher; she used to teach middle school. So, she told me about the topic. And it’s happening a lot more and more. And unfortunately, it’s going to keep going unless something happens,” Handley said.
The district identified schools based on high vaping-related referral data. Detectors will be installed at the following 19 campuses:
- High Schools: Celebration, Gateway, Harmony, Liberty, Nova Lakes, Osceola, Poinciana, St. Cloud and Tohopekaliga high schools.
- Alternative Schools: New Beginnings Education Center and Zenith Accelerated Academy.
- Middle Schools: Horizon, Kissimmee, Denn John, St. Cloud, Harmony and Parkway middle schools, along with Knights Point K-8 School and Discovery Intermediate School.
Installation will be completed by qualified technicians, potentially outside of regular school hours to minimize disruption to students.
Once in place, the detectors will provide real-time alerts to designated staff, allowing them to respond quickly, document incidents and connect students with school-based or community prevention and cessation services. The district says it will track and report the number of vaping-related referrals, as well as the number of students connected to cessation programs throughout the agreement period.
Handley emphasized the importance of stepping in early.
“Yeah, definitely start young, make sure they know what’s going to happen if they don’t stop. It’s a lifelong addiction most of the time,” Handley said.
The district has set clear benchmarks for the program. Officials aim to achieve a 25% reduction in vaping-related student referrals at participating schools compared to the 2024-2025 school year.
Beyond that, the district has committed to referring 100% of students with vaping-related referrals to appropriate school-based or community youth cessation and prevention services. Officials will also monitor how many of those referred students actually engage with cessation or prevention programs.
The district says vape detection data will be used not only to respond to incidents but to shape future prevention and intervention strategies, with the broader goal of reducing substance use on campuses and enhancing overall student safety.
The school board will vote on the agreement Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. during its meeting at the School District Administrative Complex.