At the Warren County School Board meeting on August 21, 2024, several key policies and initiatives were reviewed and discussed in detail about school safety, personnel regulations, and financial management. The meeting began with the second reading of policy BDD, which addressed electronic attendance at meetings from remote locations. Minor corrections were made, such as a spelling error in the policy’s wording. The council elected to delay the policy to a third reading in September to ensure that all details are thoroughly reviewed before final approval.
The board then addressed updates to policy rule GCVD-R, which provides guidelines for staff sick leave. The updates were designed to clarify when and how sick days should be used. Board members stressed the importance of clear communication with staff to ensure that sick days are reserved for actual illnesses or family emergencies and are not used as additional vacation days. The policy now allows principals to request a doctor’s note after five consecutive days of absence or when abuse is suspected. The policy’s language was praised for balancing clarity with the flexibility needed to respond to different situations, particularly chronic absence.
Next, the board approved the acceptance of several grants. The Shenandoah Valley Computer Science Regional Partnership Grant provides $9,500 for computer science equipment and professional development, strengthening the district’s STEM offerings. In addition, the board accepted $131,849 in federal and state grants for school safety improvements, such as upgrading safety equipment and providing related training. Another grant from the E-Rate program, totaling $163,582, will fund improvements to the district’s internet services, including purchasing new access points, firewall protection services and related infrastructure. This grant requires a $52,775 local match, which the board approved, and the use of previously secured safety funds to cover additional related expenses.
A significant portion of the meeting focused on discussion of metal detectors in schools, which sparked considerable debate. Originally, the board had approved the purchase of a metal detector for a specific school following a gun incident. However, it was revealed that five metal detectors had been purchased and are now in storage, raising concerns among board members about a lack of transparency and circumvention of the board’s approval processes. The metal detectors were purchased using separate purchase orders to keep each transaction below the threshold requiring board approval. Some members criticized this method as undermining the board’s oversight role.
Board members discussed the potential introduction of these metal detectors at school entrances, particularly at the two secondary schools. Concerns were raised about the logistics of checking hundreds of students daily, the potential disruption and the general need for such measures in the current school environment. The discussion also addressed the practical challenges of using metal detectors, such as training staff and the impact on day-to-day school operations.
Ultimately, the board decided to proceed cautiously. It agreed to develop an arrangement for the metal detector installed at a single school where there were safety concerns. This arrangement would allow the school to use the metal detector while the board considers broader implementation strategies. The idea of a pilot program was proposed, using this school as a test case to evaluate the effectiveness and challenges of using metal detectors before potentially expanding the program to other schools.
In other action items, the board reviewed the July 2024 financial report, which provided a snapshot of the district’s revenues and expenses. The report highlighted that while some expenses appeared high due to the timing of payments, overall spending was on track. The board discussed the importance of tracking variable expenses, such as substitute teacher costs and utility bills, to ensure the budget remains balanced throughout the year.
The meeting concluded with a review of recently released Standards of Learning (SOL) data for the past school year. The raw data showed slight declines in English and math scores, sparking discussions about ongoing efforts to address learning gaps, particularly those exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The board was updated on several initiatives to improve student achievement, including implementation of the Virginia Literacy Act and new math screening tools. Chronic absenteeism was also identified as a critical area of focus, with the board noting that efforts to reduce absenteeism had shown positive trends, particularly in elementary and middle schools.
Overall, the meeting was characterised by a careful balancing of short-term needs such as school safety and financial oversight with longer-term goals of improving educational outcomes and maintaining transparency in decision-making.
Watch the August 21, 2024 Warren County School Board meeting in exclusive Royal Examiner video from Mark Williams.
