From 2016 and 2017, following Dean Christian’s time recovering from cancer and his return eventual return to the Mills community, he admittedly reports that vaping and e-cigs were not considered a problem. Dean Christian noted that he did notice increasing usage of electionically-admitted nicotine devices around skate parks, however, the district was more focused on monitoring the transition from traditional cigarettes to vapes than spearheading a program to reprimand students. While Dean Christian was glad that cigarettes were becoming less and less prevalent in student’s lives, it was clear to him that information needed to be provided to students should they decide to try vaping. By the time mid to late 2018 came around, coinciding with the immense popularity of the JUUL e-cigarette, Dean Christian noted that the district started to the address the problem more seriously and enforcing counter measures such as suspensions, parent notifications and enrolling offenders in tobacco-informing classes. In retrospect, Dean Christian acknowledges the best way to prevent potential vapers is to inform them of the risks and remind them that school isn’t the time to exhale puffs of smoke from the bathroom stalls. He further supports his claim by describing school as a “business environment,” and adding “we expect students to keep it professional at school, the teachers and I don’t get high or carry vapes at work, so students shouldn’t either.”
Currently, Dean Christian is looking to take steps to evolve the school’s course of action in wake of the ever-increasing number of first-time users and bonafide addicts. Dean Christian mentions how it is crucial to inform students of the potential risks and provides the following comment: “It starts with enticing kids with flavors such as mango or mint, and whenever kids say to me that they only vape for the pleasant flavor, I highly doubt that. You see the same thing with smokers–it builds a nicotine dependency.” Furthermore, Dean Christian insists that the previous enforcement of disciplinary action will still be enforced to those who continue to vape at school, that being the possibility of suspension and informing parents, however, he feels that it is important to communicate with students. Reportedly, Dean Christian has noticed a decrease in the amount of students vaping in school at the same time he returned to campus. He explains the following phenomenon as a result of his ability to resonate with students in a way benefits both parties: he provides the necessary information so that students know the risks, and at the end of the day, students have the necessary information to determine whether they should continue or shake their vaping habits. In conclusion, Dean Christian provides the following closing remarks about vaping: “It is my and the administration’s goal to declare all schools in the district tobacco-free zones. We are students’ parents; when they are not at home, we are teaching them. We help you make good choices and provide the necessary information that you need to know better. When students are tempted by vapes or any other sort of drugs, our goal is arm students with enough information so that they can make educated decisions concerning their own health.”
