Will school weapon detections cause class time delay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently Fairfax has tables next to the metal detectors so kids can just slide their stuff along next to them. That way they don’t need staff standing there taking each student’s metal items as they walk through.

Are they checking the bags though?

They aren't. They also aren't stopping kids who set off the detector.

Then what's the point?

There's no point!

[Anonymous]

We start tomorrow and the kids were told the only thing they have to take out of their backpack now is the computer. Hopefully that makes it much faster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We start tomorrow and the kids were told the only thing they have to take out of their backpack now is the computer. Hopefully that makes it much faster.

Is that because the school recognizes this is just theater?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has there been any word about when this will be implemented in middle schools? I thought it was the beginning of the school year, but we have heard literally nothing.

My student at Rocky Run was told 9/9.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has there been any word about when this will be implemented in middle schools? I thought it was the beginning of the school year, but we have heard literally nothing.

My student at Rocky Run was told 9/9.

Lol, there is no school that day!

[Anonymous]

Kids at South Lake are still late due to the screening. Reminder that they even had a pilot last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do teachers know to NOT mark kids late if their bus arrives at 8:05 and they can’t get through weapons check? Do teachers mark them late and then admin excuses?

I've been wondering this too. Both my kids have been late to class every day but they are not sure how teachers are marking it. I guess I'll find out soon enough!

Admin makes announcements about this. Every morning since school started our principal has come on to let us know when weapons screening is done. The past few days it’s been 8:05 so kids are able to get to class on time. If a bus is late, they make announcements about that, too

We received an email on Friday saying that normal attendance marking would resume on Monday. We haven't received any further communication saying otherwise since then. So, I've been assuming that tardy is tardy, even if due to weapons screening delays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently Fairfax has tables next to the metal detectors so kids can just slide their stuff along next to them. That way they don’t need staff standing there taking each student’s metal items as they walk through.

Are they checking the bags though?

They aren't. They also aren't stopping kids who set off the detector.

Then what's the point?

There's no point!

The point is the same point the National Guard presence downtown is making. If there actually were a school shooting (yes, god forbid) this ridiculous lip service of a screening process would be laid bare, rather than actually providing them cover. No one who is actually looking to prevent violence would view this as an effective process. The gaps are obvious to every teenager who is walking through that line. FCPS is trying to do just enough to give themselves a talking point. So, our kids are getting shorted on the education that $6m could have bought in favor of theatrics that on balance make them less safe.

[Anonymous]

Please call and write to your school board member! End this nonsense!

[Anonymous]

From Westfield today. We have received zero messaging about weapons detection.

Greetings. All Westfield families are receiving this message. Please note that students who accumulate between 5 and 10 unexcused tardies or class cuts in one week will receive lunch detention and be placed on pass restrictions (from 4 to 2 per day). Students who accumulate 11+ unexcused tardies or class cuts in one week will receive an afterschool detention and will be pass restricted to 1/day. When students have four weeks of 11+ unexcused tardies or class cuts (consecutively or not), they will be placed on full day escort and parents will be invited to a meeting at school. This is a change from last year. Tardies and class cuts will be monitored on weekly basis. Please talk with your student and remind them to arrive to class on time and to not leave class without permission. Thank you for your support and partnership!

Best,
Maranda Black
Dean of Students

[Anonymous]

So if the machine beeps the teacher is supposed to pat the student down or search their backpack? What if the teacher fails to find a weapon but the studbet actually has one? Who’s liable? Did the school board even consider this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From Westfield today. We have received zero messaging about weapons detection.

Greetings. All Westfield families are receiving this message. Please note that students who accumulate between 5 and 10 unexcused tardies or class cuts in one week will receive lunch detention and be placed on pass restrictions (from 4 to 2 per day). Students who accumulate 11+ unexcused tardies or class cuts in one week will receive an afterschool detention and will be pass restricted to 1/day. When students have four weeks of 11+ unexcused tardies or class cuts (consecutively or not), they will be placed on full day escort and parents will be invited to a meeting at school. This is a change from last year. Tardies and class cuts will be monitored on weekly basis. Please talk with your student and remind them to arrive to class on time and to not leave class without permission. Thank you for your support and partnership!

Best,
Maranda Black
Dean of Students

Wow. Woodson leadership has given updates on how it’s going every other day or so. I find it helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So if the machine beeps the teacher is supposed to pat the student down or search their backpack? What if the teacher fails to find a weapon but the studbet actually has one? Who’s liable? Did the school board even consider this?

Have students been told their rights for if system goes off as to what they have to agree to or not agree to, can they call their parents, etc?

And there is NO way any teacher will be willing to “pat down” a student. SO many ways for that to go wrong from missing a weapon, to finding a weapon to assault claims.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if the machine beeps the teacher is supposed to pat the student down or search their backpack? What if the teacher fails to find a weapon but the studbet actually has one? Who’s liable? Did the school board even consider this?

Have students been told their rights for if system goes off as to what they have to agree to or not agree to, can they call their parents, etc?

And there is NO way any teacher will be willing to “pat down” a student. SO many ways for that to go wrong from missing a weapon, to finding a weapon to assault claims.

That’s why this is a total mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From Westfield today. We have received zero messaging about weapons detection.

Greetings. All Westfield families are receiving this message. Please note that students who accumulate between 5 and 10 unexcused tardies or class cuts in one week will receive lunch detention and be placed on pass restrictions (from 4 to 2 per day). Students who accumulate 11+ unexcused tardies or class cuts in one week will receive an afterschool detention and will be pass restricted to 1/day. When students have four weeks of 11+ unexcused tardies or class cuts (consecutively or not), they will be placed on full day escort and parents will be invited to a meeting at school. This is a change from last year. Tardies and class cuts will be monitored on weekly basis. Please talk with your student and remind them to arrive to class on time and to not leave class without permission. Thank you for your support and partnership!

Best,
Maranda Black
Dean of Students

What is this nonsense? Is this the worst run school in Fairfax? You were tardy because our line is too long, so now YOU CANT GO TO THE BATHROOM? That's what "passes" are, bathroom passes.