The Frisco ISD Board of Trustees has approved a new student Code of Conduct, cracking down on vape possession and fighting within schools, under the new Texas House Bill 114.
The recently passed House Bill outlines that any student who uses, owns, or sells any vapes, e-cigarettes, or marijuana products on school grounds or within 300 feet of a school or district property will immediately be sent to a Disciplinary Alternative Education Placement (DAEP) for at least 10 days, and will be charged with a $500 fine by the city in which their school resides.
“In the City of McKinney, across all 3 McKinney ISD High Schools as well as Emerson, we get about 20 vape cases a week,” Resource Officer John Walls said, “If we’re sending them all to the alternative school, it may get a bit crowded.”
Vaping has become a prevalent issue with Texas youth, with 18.7 percent of high schoolers admitting to using a vape or e-cigarette at least once in the last 30 days.
“Vaping has been getting out of hand recently,” Walls said, “Especially since some of the vapes I confiscate are THC vapes, which is an immediate felony.”
The new code of conduct also outlines fighting, where students are sent to a DAEP after the second offense, with instances of assault leading to being instantly sent to a DAEP with the possibility of being charged with a crime under Texas law.
“If I have to catch or break up a fight, it’s also a disorderly conduct charge, which is another $500,” Walls said.
The new laws and code of conduct were approved this past summer, in June and August, respectively, and went into effect in the new 2023-24 school year.
“These new laws are truly for the benefit of both students and faculty.” said Walls.
