PB Piloting Multiple Programs for MCPS Vape Detectors Installed Student ID Program Begins

Luise Emerson Terrel Staff Writer

On April 12, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) announced that Paint Branch along with five other high schools, (John F. Kennedy, Northwood, Quince Orchard, Richard Montgomery, and Walt Whitman) would be participating in a pilot program intended to combat vaping and discourage the use of illicit substances.

According to MCPS Chief Operating Officer M. Brian Hull, “Vape detectors are in the process of being installed in the bathrooms” of the participating schools, and intervention services and prevention outreach will also be provided. The program will slowly be integrated into the participating schools. The program will finish at the end of the school year and after that, MCPS will be assessing the results to determine the usefulness of the detectors.

As for whether the detectors will at least decrease the problem of vaping in bathrooms, Paint Branch Security Team Member Mr. Nate Young said, “Absolutely.” Mr. Young adds that, “Normally it’s...been a big problem” and it happens “throughout the day, every day.”

Freshman Simon Behr is unsure whether or not the vape detectors will work but if they do he thinks they will be “pretty effective.” He does note that his initial thinking is that there is a flaw in that while the vape detectors will “be able to detect that someone was vaping,” it will “have absolutely no idea who.”

Peace Alayode is confused about what the vape detectors are supposed to be detecting. “A lot of things can produce vapor besides vapes,” says the PB junior. Alayode also says that with the vape detectors only in the bathrooms it limits their effectiveness as people will just not vape in the bathrooms and “how quickly can an administrator get to the bathroom when the detector goes off?” She finishes by adding, “everyone knows that’s not really the place people smoke anymore.”

PB’s involvement in the program came because MCPS asked PB if it wanted to be involved. PB Principal Dr. Mirshah feels proud to be part of the program because she believes that, “it says they trust us to do a good job.” She also notes that she really hopes the program works.

Abigail Alem Staff Writer

Have you ever seen someone in the halls and thought, “Do they even go here?” If you answered yes to this question, you are not alone. While Paint Branch High School has over 2,200 students, which makes it nearly impossible to know everyone, it can still feel like some people walking the hallway may not belong here. This is where ID badges come into the picture.

On April 12, MCPS released a letter to members of the community regarding school safety and that several schools, including PB, would be piloting a program of ID badges for staff and students. In the letter MCPS stated, “The second program involves high school students wearing badges as a way to identify themselves on campus.” The county also stated that they hope that this system will, “help our staff and security personnel to quickly recognize students who belong on campus and identify any individuals who do not.”

PB, along with Walter Johnson and Richard Montgomery, was selected to be one of the schools to pilot this program, which should be up and running fully by the end of the month. Dr. Mirshah, the PB school principal explains, “We did community circles with students and met with members of SGA. And from the students I heard that they wanted increased security and that they were concerned that there are people in the building that shouldn’t be here.”The reasoning behind the added security measures for PB came from the incidents the school faced in February. After meeting with people from the school community and others around the county, Dr. Mirshah felt it was imperative to take security measures to the next level, so taking advantage of the opportunity to pilot this program made sense.

The student ID badges are meant to identify what students are in the building, and when. According to Dr. Mirshah during information assemblies held on May 15th, students who return late from lunch will scan their ID as they enter the building. Eventually students will also use this method for daily entry into the building each morning.

While it might take time for students to get accustomed to the new routine, testing this system now will enable everyone to be “ready with it for the next school year,” notes Dr. Mirshah. With the added security measure, students will be given grace as they familiarize themselves with bringing their IDs. If a student forgets their ID, they can identify themselves on synergy and potentially get a visitors badge-- or a new ID can be ordered for them.

PB will use this new system to expand the current ID usage around school, such as using an ID to check out a book from the Media Center. Now, gradual steps will be added. “When you arrive late from lunch or if you go to the nurse’s or the counselor’s office, you’ll show your ID as well,” Dr. Mirshah adds.

“Students need to help out with this,” says Dr. Mirshah who expresses how keeping each other safe is a team effort and can’t be done unless everyone helps out. The end goal is to ensure the safety of everyone, and with added security, Paint Branch might be able to accomplish that.