BOARD OF EDUCATION
HIGH POINT REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
299 PIDGEON HILL ROAD - SUSSEX, NJ 07461-2733
fax 973-875-0904   www.hpregional.org
 
Seamus Campbell
Director of Curriculum & Instruction
973-875-3170
SCampbell@hpregional.org	Dr. Scott D. Ripley
Superintendent
973-875-7204
sripley@hpregional.org	James Minkewicz
Business Administrator/ Board Secretary
973-875-7205
jminkewicz@hpregional.org	
June 24, 2024

Dear Parents and Community Members,

High Point Regional High School is deeply committed to providing a world-class educational experience to the children of our community. We recognize the importance the high school experience has on preparing students to meet the challenges of a quickly changing future. That experience must be established in an affirming, caring, compassionate, culture of excellence in which the wellbeing of every student is championed and protected.

We have been contending with external factors that have challenged our ability to ensure student wellbeing. The scourge of vaping has had a profound negative impact on our pursuit of a culture of excellence. There can be no place for vaping paraphernalia or use on our campus, in our parking lots, in our classrooms, or in our student bathrooms. These devices are not permitted on the campus of High Point Regional High School; these devices threaten student health and wellbeing. In spite of the dangers of vaping, we daily encounter students engaging these devices that can contain controlled dangerous substances – even deadly substances. This cannot be overstated: vaping is harming – even killing our children.

As educators at High Point Regional High School, it is our responsibility to ensure student wellbeing. Continuing to contend with vaping prevents us from fulfilling that responsibility: such a failure cannot stand. As such, effective for the 2024-25 school year, High Point Regional High School shall be enforcing and applying N.J.S.A. 26:3D-55 et seq., known as the New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act, which prohibits all smoking on school campuses – vaping falls under this legislation. Therefore, High Point will file a complaint for each instance of vaping on our campus where persons found to be in violation of the Act are subject to fines and penalties established by the Act of $250 for a first offense, $500 for a second offense, and $1,000 for each subsequent offense. 

The wellbeing of our children is far too important for us to continue to accept the use of vaping products on the High Point Regional High School campus and in our buildings. We implore our parents and community to support us in our efforts to eliminate the use of these deadly products so as to save our children from harm and to affirm a culture of excellence within our school. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Scott D. Ripley Ed.D.
Superintendent