MOULTRIE, Ga. — The Colquitt County Board of Education stepped into the debate over e-cigarettes at its monthly meeting Monday night.

The board proposed adding new rules to the Student Code of Conduct about the devices, which deliver nicotine or other chemicals through steam rather than through the burning of tobacco cigarettes.

Recently, e-cigarettes have been linked to a handful of deaths and several other medical incidents, and the school board noticed increased use of the devices among Colquitt County students.

“The plan we have now is just not adequate,” school Superintendent Doug Howell said, “and mainly because of the rapid expansion in the use of e-cigarettes, e-cigarette paraphernalia and vaping devices that are used, this is just one area that has been exploding.

“I’m sure with all the recent deaths and lung problems, there will probably be some changes made by the FDA,” Howell said, “but I think what we’ve got here will cover pretty much anything that happens at our schools. I think this will be a much tighter policy.”

The board will come to a conclusion about the revisions to the policy at the next regular meeting, Nov. 18.

Also on Monday’s agenda was the implementation of a new ESS Intercom system for Willie J. Williams Middle School. Howell said some parts of the building are without the intercom system that’s used throughout the newer parts of the school. The item was approved.

“The current system is just not capable of doing what it needs to do as far as safety, information and communications,” said Howell.

The board also expressed pride in the Lady Packers softball team who reached the final eight teams for the state championship and invited them to attend the next board meeting after the championship.

“No matter what happens, we want to invite them to the meeting and let them know how proud we are,” said Howell.

The team will play at noon Thursday in Columbus. If they win, they’ll play again at 8 p.m.; if they lose that first game, they’ll play again at noon Friday.