The Sunflower County Consolidated School District held its first meeting in 2024 at A. W. James Elementary in Drew last Thursday.
The board of trustees, which includes new members Bryant Kimbrough and Kilpatrick Sibley, heard a report from district Personnel & Student Affairs Director William Murphy on the prevalence of vaping and illegal substance use in the schools.
Vaping, marijuana and cigars are not only prevalent in big cities, he said, they have made their “slow” arrival to the rural areas.
Murphy, stated, “One of the things I want you to notice, that as you kind of skim through (the report) and look at it, you will notice…we are having an issue with marijuana, vaping, cigars whatever it is. You will see that popping up, and it’s happening more frequently. It’s nationally. Obviously, things usually trickle slowly to us here in the Delta in Mississippi. We are seeing a lot more incidents than what we would normally have with vapers.”
Murphy suggested this is a new reality for parents and educators.
“Kids are vapers,” he said. “You are talking upper elementary, middle and high school, so that’s something you will see.”
Murphy noted that recommendation for discipline go to the superintendent.
“If there is any kind of recommendation for expulsion it comes to you all,” he said. “We did not have one on this round. But these are the few that we had since December 13. I’ve got about five hearings scheduled for next week. About three of them -- same thing vaping, marijuana. So, that’s a big concern.”
Superintendent Dr. Miskia Davis said that the fact that they are seeing it in upper elementary schools is “scary.”
In a follow up interview with The Enterprise-Tocsin, Murphy, stated that SCCSD follows a Code of Conduct for investigations, hearings, disciplinary procedures, alternative school and expulsion recommendations.
Murphy stated that parents should pay attention to their children’s backpacks, coats, pants pockets, watch for changes in color of lips, rapid weight loss, mood change and friends.
“Parents need to be mindful and watch what they do as well,” shared Murphy.
