District reports uptick in vaping incidents with new sensors
GOSHEN — With the vape sensors now installed in all Goshen High School bathrooms for about a month, Goshen Community Schools' Assistant Superintendent Alan Metcalfe said the school has seen an uptick in the number of alarms triggered.
The district began piloting the HALO Smart Sensor 2C System detectors in November and decided to purchase them for all high school bathrooms at the end of the trial period in December. The system detects real-time air quality and health index alerts to administrators using carbon dioxide, temperature, and humidity detection, determining possible instances of bullying, fighting or smoking. They cost around $1,100 with two-year subscription offering the first year free, for a total cost of $2,400.
In the trial month, around 237 unique events were reported. Notifications go to administration and the resource officer to alert them that there may be activity in the restroom. Metcalfe reported to the Goshen School Board on Monday that while assistant principals are responsible for managing the system, they may not always be available.
'By the time we get to a student, it might be difficult to prove that they were the ones in there vaping,' Metcalfe said, noting that regardless, families are contacted in the event a student is identified in the bathroom when the sensor goes off via camera.
'It has given an opportunity to talk to families and really start spreading that message that vapes are an issue and we really don't want them here at school so please talk to your student about that if you would,' Metcalfe said.
Board president Bradd Weddell asked if all parents are contacted if there are multiple students in the restroom at that time.
Metcalfe said students are called to the office and asked if they have anything on them and asked to check their bag and parents are still called regardless.
Weddell expressed concern that parents may be falsely contacted.
'I know if I would receive a call, it would be concerning,' Weddell said.
Metcalfe assured him that when they contact parents and are unsure, they always make sure to let parents know that they are unsure.
'We always also encourage students that if the sensor goes off when you're in there and it's not you, please report that to a teacher or administrator,' Metcalfe added.
OTHER BOARD ITEMS
• After problems with potable water, painted surfaces and fire hydrants have been resolved with the baseball/softball complex, the district is still set for a double-header of both baseball and softball marking the first usage of the new complex on April 1. DuBois said while it's not set in stone yet, they hope to move ahead with a first-pitch ribbon cutting ahead of that game. The first game on the fields as a whole, however, will be the softball game Wednesday.
• Funding for the Summer Learning Lab was approved at the board meeting. The grant from the state allows kids in kindergarten through eighth grade to attend summer school, mostly likely at Chamberlain Elementary School, for about five weeks. The board approved a memorandum of understanding with the Boys & Girls Club for a Summer Learning Lab for the program and funding for after program services.
• Angela M. McKee was chosen by the Goshen Community School Board to serve as the director of the Goshen Community Schools Building Corporation. McKee is already the corporation director and her term was up, so she was reappointed.
• The district is working with SmartSites to improve the district website. They are hoping to update and reduce clutter.
• Goshen Community Schools' spring break is April 7 through 11.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
City partners with Goshen Schools to offer swimming this summer
GOSHEN — Public swimming will be available at Goshen Community Schools' indoor pool this summer while the Shanklin Park pool remains closed. From now through Aug. 1, residents can attend open swim and Red Cross-certified swim lessons at the Goshen Community Schools Aquatic Center, 1216 S. Indiana Ave. The indoor pool will serve as the city's main swim site after the closure of Shanklin Pool. 'Our city and schools always step up when the community needs us,' Mayor Gina Leichty said in the announcement from the city. 'While we don't yet know the fate of Shanklin Pool, we remain committed to working together in the best interest of our residents. Especially our kids.' The city paused the $12 million pool rehab project earlier this year thanks to uncertainty over the impact of funding cuts included in Indiana's new two-year budget and in Senate Bill 1. Goshen had completed design work and secured local support, but elected officials chose to delay construction until they better understood how the legislation will affect city finances. In the meantime, the Parks Department prioritized swim access for youth and families through the partnership with GCS, according to information from the city. Open swim runs Monday through Friday from 1 to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Aquatic Center will not be available for open swim on June 7, June 19-20 and June 30 and on July 1-6, July 11-12 and July 18-26. Certified instructors will lead swim lessons Monday through Friday from 3:15 to 6 p.m. Sessions cost $55 and follow American Red Cross standards. Classes are available for beginners ages 5 and older, and for parents with children ages 1 to 5. Residents can register online at The site also allows daily pass purchases and waiver submission for youth ages 14 to 17 to attend without an adult, though a fee applies to all credit card purchases. Daily admission is $5 and children age 2 and under swim free. The city will not offer season passes in 2025. For more information, call Goshen Parks and Recreation at 574-534-2901. In addition to indoor swim options, the City of Goshen offers three free splash pads open daily through the summer. All three operate every day from noon to 8 p.m., May 25 through Aug. 25, weather permitting. Walnut Park Splash Pad is located on the city's north side at East Oakridge Avenue between Fifth and Sixth streets, Pringle Park Splash Pad is on West Lincoln Avenue between Greene Road and Indiana Avenue and Rieth Park Splash Pad is on 13th Street between Iowa and Illinois streets on the south side. City leaders around three years ago started looking at replacing Shanklin Pool, which was originally built in 1969. They settled on an overhaul plan that includes replacing the aging pool and support buildings that are beyond their functional lifespan with a modern facility. The design includes a beach entry, water slides, toddler bay, basketball goal, shaded lounging areas and cabanas. Construction was set to begin this year, but city council followed Leichty's recommendation in March and voted to pause the $14 million bond process and shift focus to fundraising and grant-writing.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Yahoo
District reports uptick in vaping incidents with new sensors
GOSHEN — With the vape sensors now installed in all Goshen High School bathrooms for about a month, Goshen Community Schools' Assistant Superintendent Alan Metcalfe said the school has seen an uptick in the number of alarms triggered. The district began piloting the HALO Smart Sensor 2C System detectors in November and decided to purchase them for all high school bathrooms at the end of the trial period in December. The system detects real-time air quality and health index alerts to administrators using carbon dioxide, temperature, and humidity detection, determining possible instances of bullying, fighting or smoking. They cost around $1,100 with two-year subscription offering the first year free, for a total cost of $2,400. In the trial month, around 237 unique events were reported. Notifications go to administration and the resource officer to alert them that there may be activity in the restroom. Metcalfe reported to the Goshen School Board on Monday that while assistant principals are responsible for managing the system, they may not always be available. 'By the time we get to a student, it might be difficult to prove that they were the ones in there vaping,' Metcalfe said, noting that regardless, families are contacted in the event a student is identified in the bathroom when the sensor goes off via camera. 'It has given an opportunity to talk to families and really start spreading that message that vapes are an issue and we really don't want them here at school so please talk to your student about that if you would,' Metcalfe said. Board president Bradd Weddell asked if all parents are contacted if there are multiple students in the restroom at that time. Metcalfe said students are called to the office and asked if they have anything on them and asked to check their bag and parents are still called regardless. Weddell expressed concern that parents may be falsely contacted. 'I know if I would receive a call, it would be concerning,' Weddell said. Metcalfe assured him that when they contact parents and are unsure, they always make sure to let parents know that they are unsure. 'We always also encourage students that if the sensor goes off when you're in there and it's not you, please report that to a teacher or administrator,' Metcalfe added. OTHER BOARD ITEMS • After problems with potable water, painted surfaces and fire hydrants have been resolved with the baseball/softball complex, the district is still set for a double-header of both baseball and softball marking the first usage of the new complex on April 1. DuBois said while it's not set in stone yet, they hope to move ahead with a first-pitch ribbon cutting ahead of that game. The first game on the fields as a whole, however, will be the softball game Wednesday. • Funding for the Summer Learning Lab was approved at the board meeting. The grant from the state allows kids in kindergarten through eighth grade to attend summer school, mostly likely at Chamberlain Elementary School, for about five weeks. The board approved a memorandum of understanding with the Boys & Girls Club for a Summer Learning Lab for the program and funding for after program services. • Angela M. McKee was chosen by the Goshen Community School Board to serve as the director of the Goshen Community Schools Building Corporation. McKee is already the corporation director and her term was up, so she was reappointed. • The district is working with SmartSites to improve the district website. They are hoping to update and reduce clutter. • Goshen Community Schools' spring break is April 7 through 11.
Yahoo
11-12-2024
- Yahoo
GHS considering vape detection system
Dec. 10—GOSHEN — New software at the high school has been allowing school officials to detect drugs on campus more easily. On Monday, the Goshen School Board learned that it's the final week of Goshen High School's 30-day trial of the HALO Smart Sensor 2C System, designed to sense vaping, smoking, and masking and posted in men's and women's common area restrooms by the cafeteria at the high school. "They claim that they would be able to detect a baggie of gummies being opened up if they were THC," said GHS Assistant Principal High School PJ Wolf. Notifications go to administration and the resource officer's phones to alert them that there may be activity in the restroom. The system also has a tamper alert. "The whole point of this is not a 'gotcha,' we're not trying to 'get' our students," Wolf said. He explained that they'd be open to adding signs to remind students that the sensors are there. The HALO sensor provides real-time air quality and health index alerts to administrators using carbon dioxide, temperature, and humidity detection, according to the company's website. Wolf said in the five weeks of the trial, of 27 school days, the program registered about 7,000 total alerts, however, many of the alerts were back-to-back and related to the same incidents, having been triggered seconds apart. Of those, about 237 were identified as unique events meaning they were over five minutes apart. Of those three events, only three were identified as THC-related. Instead, the most common alert was for the people count, which is currently set for three people at a time. The People count is designed to detect possible instances of bullying, fighting or smoking. Administration response in the men's restroom was higher overall, but Wolf said it's because the resource officer covering at lunch duty is a man and can get to the restroom faster. The first two days, Wolf said there were six THC vape alerts and the next few days there were less than half of it. The girl's side the average didn't change, but they also didn't have the same early intervention. "The whole reason we got these in the first place is because we were reliant on student and teacher reports," Wolf said. No decision was made by the board on whether they will continue the program or expand it to other areas of the school or other schools in the district. The trial ends this week. TIER 3 ONLINE COUNSELING Goshen High School is considering adding a Tier 3 psychiatric care support system to its arsenal of mental health services available to students. Goshen Community Schools Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Tracey Noe explained that while the district has partnerships with Oaklawn and the Bowen Center, not enough students are being supported, there are waitlists, and as far as the school is aware, not enough students are able to attend Bowen. In 2022-23, 246 students were serviced through Oaklawn, 62 more students were seen in small groups during school or in other situations, and Bowen did not give numbers. Noe said a lack of available providers and very long waitlists are a main reason that kids can't get psychiatric care, and poor mental health is a contributing factor to chronic absenteeism, poor grades and other problems. Cartwheel is a possible solution. The all-virtual-based therapy program offered a licensed therapist and case manager to any referred student in the district within seven to 10 days of the referral. Around 40% of the therapists are bilingual, with 10 languages on staff. Cartwheel's program refers all families to a case manager within 24 hours of referral and every district is also provided a clinical program manager who works alongside the administration team. Noe said when talking with Goshen school counselors, they said they could easily fill 100 reserved slots with Cartwheel, and the program would also allow for staff members with district insurance to receive mental health care. The company accepts all insurance and Medicaid and also has opportunities for families that do not have insurance. For families with younger children who may struggle with virtual meetings, parents are instead trained to guide them through a treatment plan. Cartwheel is also able to offer outpatient and medication management but does not provide controlled substances, and does not offer counseling for eating disorders, substance abuse, active psychosis, and non-verbal patients. No action was taken during the board meeting. ELECTION FRAUD CONTROVERSY RESPONSES Two Goshen School Board members spoke regarding the election fraud cases during the board's Monday night meeting. School board member Mario Garber spoke about his recent election fraud court case. Garber was sentenced in mid-November and his charge was amended down the misdemeanor status, as many of the defendants in the mailer controversy were. During the school board meeting on Monday, Garber apologized for his part, and he thanked the board and the community for their support. "It was unintentional, what happened with the campaign finance, but still, rules were broken, and I feel like I need to take responsibility for that," Garber said. "We've been doing so many good things over the last year and this has kind of been a cloud over that." Garber said he doesn't feel the need to step down from the board, but that stepping down from his appointment as board secretary would be moot, given that appointments are redetermined in January at the next board meeting. "I would like to stay on the board if that's possible," Garber said. Garber was among five individuals involved in the allegations, and one who was recently sentenced. The other who was recently sentenced was Roger Nafziger, who has been suffering from medical problems during recent months and stepped down as board president as a result. Replacing him as board president was Bradd Weddell, who also read a statement. "I've been asked why a statement has not been made by this board regarding those charges and why the non-involved board members have not taken any action against chose charged," he read. "My simple answer is I felt, and I still feel, it was our responsibility to focus on our students and the staff of Goshen Community Schools. Each individual was due their day in court and the board making a statement would not have influenced the outcome." Weddell encouraged anyone dissatisfied with the outcome of the cases to speak with the prosecutor or the judge. "This board had no influence on that outcome," he reiterated. OTHER BOARD ITEMS —Goshen Community Schools is working toward creating its own version of the entrepreneurship program in Elkhart, Startup Moxie. Goshen High School Principal Cathy Demeyer said while Goshen students already attend the Elkhart-based program, many cannot attend it due to transportation issues. They're also discussing creating individual capstone pathways which could include an entrepreneurship capstone. No formal action was taken. —A bid was accepted for the Goshen High School Band practice parking lot reconstruction at $332,546.50. —Goshen Community Schools is considering a return to Neola Inc., a district policy development company. The company also works with other Elkhart County districts and worked with Goshen until 2016. While no commitment was made, if accepted the company will replace ISBA. —The Goshen Community Schools 2025 School Board Meeting Schedule was approved by the board. Meetings will remain at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays. Meetings must be published once approved. —Goshen School Board Member Maria Sanchez Schirch was honored for her years of service to the Goshen Community Schools School Board. Sanchez Schirch chose not to run for re-election and will be replaced in the District 1 seat by Brandon Quint Miller in January. —Goshen High School has employed Jon Everingham as interim assistant principal. He started Dec. 3. —Goshen High School Band Director Tom Cox was honored for being the winner of the Dr. William P. Foster Project Community Development Award for the North Central Division back in November. —Several student-athletes were recognized during the meeting: Sophia Garber for receiving 2024 Academic All-State Honorable Mention and NLC All-Conference Honorable Mention for Girls Golf; Annika Schrock for receiving 2024 NLC All-Conference in Girls Volleyball; Lauren Kinsey for receiving 2024 NLC All-Conference Honorable Mention in Girls Volleyball; Gabe Janisse and Logan Mishler for receiving 2024 NLC All-Conference for Boys Football; Aaron Anglemyer for receiving NLC All-Conference Honorable Mention for Boys Football; Kyan Miller for receiving 2024 NLC All-Conference for Boys Tennis; Eli Stickel for receiving 2024 NLC All-Conference Honorable Mention for Boys Tennis. Dani Messick is the education and entertainment reporter for The Goshen News. She can be reached at or at 574-538-2065.
