Point Pleasant Boro Schools Tackle Vaping

Point Pleasant Boro school officials have asked for parents' help in dealing with their concerns about vaping.

Kurt Karcich, principal of Point Boro High School, wrote a letter to parents recently said he is concerned with the "growing and alarming trend in numerous high school-aged students" nationally and across New Jersey.

The trend of vaping, he said, is an alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes using an e-cigarette or similar device. The vaping companies are targeting kids (ages 11-18) by portraying it "cool for kids" and as a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes, he said.

"They are offering enticing flavors such Mango, Cotton Candy, and Gummi Bear to allure teenagers," he said. "These flavors are made from harmful chemicals that were not designed to be heated and vaporized or mixed

with nicotine."

He said the district is currently working on revising the Board of Education policy on the use of tobacco products on school property. The revised policy will detail the consequences students will face for vaping on school property.

"We will notify you when the revised policy is officially implemented. In addition, we plan on holding a parent forum on vaping in the spring. We will announce the date and time of the parent forum when it has been finalized," he said.