The Campbell Union High School District (CUHSD) has implemented HALO Smart Sensors to detect vaping in restrooms at Branham and other schools across the district. 

The sensors are currently present in about half of Branham’s restrooms with more to come soon, according to Assistant Principal Scott Savory. Due to delivery delays, Branham is one of the last CUHSD schools to roll out the sensors, which were piloted at Westmont and Del Mar.

Assistant Superintendent Meredyth Hudson hopes the sensors will help staff resolve concerns around vaping in the restrooms.

“The biggest concern that we’ve heard from students and administration is vaping. Our goal is that the bathrooms are safe [and] that students feel like they can use the bathroom safely,” Hudson said.

When a sensor detects vaping or THC, a chemical found in cannabis, campus supervisors and assistant principals receive alerts through apps on district iPads and go to assess the situation.

The sensors also light up different colors when triggered, allowing staff to distinguish the incident type and deterring students.

If students leave the restroom before staff arrive, the timestamped alerts make it easier to identify students, according to Savory.

“We don’t have cameras in restrooms, but outside of the restrooms, we have cameras. When students go in and out, and it matches the timestamps to the vape detector, it’s easier to figure out what’s going on,” Savory said.

These sensors can also detect gunshots and keywords using a microphone. The HALO website says no audio is recorded. 

Hudson said the district is still exploring how to implement these additional capabilities and is focusing on vape detection. Savory added that at Branham specifically, the sensors will notify staff when noise exceeds a certain decibel level.

“Given the demands and the frustration that we’ve heard from so many students, an additional layer of technology that can better pinpoint information helps. A student saying they feel like they can’t use the restroom — that’s not okay,” Hudson said. “If we can target the supervision, then we’re using our time more effectively.”