WEST AMWELL TWP.

WEST AMWELL TWP. - There's someone smoking, in the school bathrooms. Who you gonna' call? Cigarette Busters!

No, the offending students won't be sucked up into a canister by men in white suits, but they will get detention, suspension, or - for those who just can't kick the habit - a trip to municipal court.

The "Cigarette Buster System" will cost South Hunterdon High School $3,499 for detectors in the four hall and two locker-room bathrooms for students. The school board approved the purchase July 21 in a 6-0 vote, with members Patti Warford, Doug Coleman and Boyd Hartpence absent.

At the first whiff of smoke, said Superintendent Lisa Brady, the detectors trigger a pager that will usually be carried by Principal Don Woodring or Assistant Principal Mike Godown.

Since the school is small, and at least one of them is usually outside his office, Ms. Brady added, someone should "get there while they're still smoking."

A "very small percentage of our students smoke," Ms. Brady told the board. "Kids who don't smoke see this as a very, very big issue. There are kids who won't go to the bathroom" at school because of the smoking.

Ms. Brady said that it's difficult to catch a student smoking and "we're trying to find other ways of demonstrating that we have no tolerance" for the practice, which is banned on school property.

Staff members who smoke can leave the property during lunch, which is 22 minutes long. Because of that, said Ms. Brady, there isn't a problem with adults smoking in the school.

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