Oak Harbor High removes bathroom mirrors to curb vaping and vandalism

Oak Harbor High School removed mirrors from all student restrooms over winter break, a change administrators said was intended to reduce vandalism, vaping and bathroom congestion — and to get students to class on time. The move, confirmed last week by Associate Principal Katrina Riippa and detailed in a school newsletter distributed Saturday evening, has prompted frustration among some students who question whether removing mirrors will address the problems named.

The newsletter announced that mirrors had been relocated to hallways to prevent “bottlenecks” and said the school had received “positive responses from students,” particularly around its effects on their ability to get to classes on time. The newsletter included an AI-generated image of high school students using a mirror. That message did not reflect an earlier statement from Riippa, which cited reducing vaping and vandalism as part of the decision.

Principal Nate Salisbury acknowledged the rationale and limits of the tactic, saying, “While moving the mirrors may not fully stop incidents of vandalism or vaping, the high school is hopeful that this will be one way to help with these issues.” The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction confirmed that schools must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, but that federal guidance does not require mirrors in bathrooms, meaning the district is not out of compliance with that law.

Public health context complicates the debate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that of the 1.63 million U.S. students who used e-cigarettes in 2024, 1.2 million were high school students. Research and public health guidance note that nicotine is addictive and that students often cite feeling anxious, stressed or depressed as a common reason for vaping; health experts recommend encouraging healthy coping skills such as self-care and proactively managing stress to discourage use.

Students at Oak Harbor High say the mirror removal is unlikely to deter vaping. Senior Ayden Schofield said graffiti is more often found on stalls and walls than on mirrors, and sophomore Martha Taylor and fellow 10th grader Ally Alvaro described mirrors that had been chipped or scratched. “I really don’t think taking out the mirrors is gonna change that. I think the mirrors — they’re a perk, they’re not really the reason people go (to the bathrooms),” Taylor said. Schofield added, “mirrors do not affect anybody’s decision to vape.” Taylor also described a broader student reaction: “People are really upset about it. A lot of people think it’s unfair.”

For Island County families, the policy raises questions about balance between discipline and support. Removing fixtures may alter behavior in the short term, but students and health experts point to underlying causes of vaping that school climate changes alone may not fix. The decision underscores the need for prevention strategies that combine clear policies with mental health supports and education about nicotine addiction.

The takeaway? Talk with your kids about why they or their peers might vape, push for school-based supports that teach healthy coping skills, and ask Oak Harbor School District how enforcement will pair with prevention. Our two cents? Removing mirrors is a symbolic step — real change will come from listening to students, bolstering mental health resources, and giving young people practical alternatives when stress hits.