FAYETTEVILLE, WV (WOAY) – Fayette County students head back to school for the 2025-2026 school year.
It can be challenging for kids to transition into the mindset of summer vacation ending and school starting again, and safety is always a concern.
According to Fayette County Schools Superintendent David Warvel, the system used in each building is the same one used at Disney World and top sporting events, which can detect if a person is carrying something that resembles a weapon.
“If that’s the case, they get pulled aside and looked over quickly versus the old metal detectors, which gave a lot of false indications that something was going on,” Warvel said. “Because think of all the metal that you have on you. The county was able to use COVID-19 funds to purchase that equipment. Now, as we move into the future, once it’s purchased, you have to have a subscription every year.”
Fayette County Schools has top-notch technology; their school resource officers and new hires are oriented to active shooter scenarios and can connect in case of an emergency.
“Having said all that, each one of our school classrooms has a phone. So from my office right over there, I have a phone that will go to every school in the county, all schools. It will be like they’re all under one roof.”
Mobile phones can be a huge distraction for kids in a classroom. So, in addition to safety protocols, there is a new Fayette County NO CELLPHONESÂ during the academic day policy.
“Basically, no cellphones for the elementary kids. In middle and high school, there are exceptions to that rule,” said Warvel. “Each building principal has worked on that with their back-to-school open house, and all the students know that there will be a grace period of a month to get everybody used to that. So school starts Thursday on the 14th, so we’re going to give them until the 14th of September.”
Cellphones can be put in the students’ lockers. The school has purchased locks for those who don’t have a combination lock. After 30 days, the superintendent says it’s time to understand the rules and regulations of this policy.
“As far as we’re concerned, high school and middle school, we know there are extracurricular activities,” Warvel said. “They’re allowed to break their cell phones out for communication — about when to get picked up or cancellation. Games do get rescheduled, especially in the springtime with baseball, softball, and track. It’s all outdoors.”
The superintendent says they will fine-tune the safety and cellphone programs with a wellness check halfway through the school year.
“How are things looking? What are we seeing? Because, you know, when you implement something new, you find that there are unintended consequences,” said Warvel. “Some things will come up, there’ll be problems, there’ll be solutions, and we’ll just have to evolve through all that.”
