Lewiston, Moscow school districts receive vape detectors
Two area school districts will receive funding to install vape detectors in high school bathrooms and locker rooms.
The Vape Detector Pilot grant was given to the Lewiston School District and the Moscow School District along with more than 20 other school districts in the state. The goal of the grant is to prevent vaping and provide staff with resources to intervene and assist students, according to a news release from the Idaho State Department of Education.
Districts who received funding provided evidence for the need for vape detectors; current prevention and intervention efforts; reports of vaping incidents from 2022-2024 school years; and budgets for purchasing, installing and other costs, according to the news release.
“Putting the right tools to address vaping into the hands of our school districts is an important first step in tackling this problem and ensuring the health of our students and educational communities,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield in the news release. “I hope that schools find this equipment to be an effective new resource in safeguarding the health and well-being of their students.”
The grant is funded by the Idaho Millenium Fund and administered by the Idaho Department of Education.
Securing Our Future grants distributed to Idaho schools
Seven School Districts in the region received grants from the State Board of Education as part of the Securing Our Future grants.
Gov. Brad Little recommended the grants as part of the Idaho First budget plan in 2023. Phase two of the grant program awarded a total of $6.1 million to 73 Idaho schools and were awarded to schools that demonstrated need, project design and impact on students. Some of the funds will go to improving security infrastructure and fire systems, according to a news release from the Idaho State Board of Education.
The schools in the region include:
Grangeville Elementary/Middle School: $187,418.63 for a public announcement system
Genesee School: $133,232.74 for door updates
Lapwai Elementary/Middle/High School: $79,959 for surveillance system
Prairie Elementary: $105,000 for physical security
Riggins Elementary: $199,193.88 for life safety system
Salmon River Junior/Senior High School: $107,685 for public access
Troy Elementary: $32,758.36 for public access
School news submitted by noon Thursday will be considered for publication in Sunday’s In the Schools. Events must be open to the public; any cost must be included in the description. Submissions can be sent to city@lmtribune.com. K-12 education reporter Kaylee Brewster can be contacted at (208) 848-2297 for more information.
