BEAUMONT, Texas — This school year, Beaumont Independent School District is making policy changes to keep kids in class and off nicotine.
A year after Beaumont ISD implemented a strict vape policy, they're looking to kick the bad habits by using new methods that will help students facing nicotine dependence.
Last year, 313 kids were sent to Pathways Alternative Learning Center for vaping.
Some educators say the kids are struggling with nicotine dependence and need help, instead of only discipline.
"At Westbrook, we would have boxes of them cause they were getting them from anywhere and everywhere," said the principal of Pathways Learning Center, Joseph Bowser Jr.
During his tenure as Assistant Principal of Westbrook High School, he collected a numerous amount of vapes.
"Some of them look like pens, they look like highlighters," he said. "And so, the kids were able to disguise them."
Last year, new state legislation mandated that kids caught vaping or in possession of a vape, be sent to an alternative school for 20 days.
"They're losing instructional time, and again, access to programs like dual credit," said BISD Assistant Superintendent for secondary administration Anetra Cheatham.
The new state legislation implemented last year impacted the education of over 300 students.
"It was a strain, because we wasn't prepared for an influx of students, and this is huge," said Bowser. "I had a range of kids, from kids in the band, to kids that skip class, you know kids that were in Orange classes, dual credit."
BISD decided to rewrite policies as a way to help students facing vaping addiction.
"We're addressing the discipline, but we're not addressing the addiction," said Bowser. "They're addicted to these things."
This school year, BISD kids that are caught vaping nicotine for the first time will get suspended and take an online course to learn how vaping affects their bodies.
"Where they're able to learn why this is an issue, what the impact is on their health long term," said Cheatham.
If caught the second time, they'll be suspended and their parents have to take the class with them.
On the third strike, the student will get sent to Pathways.
"Third time when they come to us, they will be required to attend a substance abuse class every Tuesday," said Bowser. "Parents must attend with them at least once because we want [to] educate them on what is actually happening to them."
BISD says that kids caught with THC will automatically be sent to Pathways.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.