Warren County Schools to End Parent Walk-Ins During Morning Drop-Off Beginning January 6

Beginning January 6, 2027, parents and guardians in Warren County Public Schools will no longer be permitted to walk their children to classrooms during morning drop-off.

Morning Arrival and School Safety (1)

The change, announced in a November 5 letter from Superintendent Dr. Troy Wright, follows a review of school security practices by the division’s Health and Safety Committee.

School officials say allowing adults to enter buildings freely alongside students creates a potential security vulnerability, particularly during the busy morning arrival period when staff may have difficulty monitoring everyone entering the school.

The new procedures were among several matters discussed during the Warren County School Board’s November 4 meeting, which also included approval of a special meeting to move forward with the structural investigation at E. Wilson Morrison Elementary School.

Parents Will Say Goodbye at the School Entrance

Under the new procedures, students will enter through designated doors and proceed to their classrooms under the supervision of school employees.

Parents and guardians will no longer accompany them through the hallways during routine morning drop-off.

Wright explained the decision in his November 5 letter to families.

“Through this review, we have identified allowing parents and guardians to enter the building to walk their children to class as a potential security vulnerability,” he wrote.

“While well-intentioned, this practice makes it difficult to maintain consistent oversight of building access during busy morning arrival times.”

The superintendent acknowledged that the change could be difficult for some families, particularly those with younger children or students with disabilities.

He said staff members will be stationed throughout school hallways to welcome students and help them reach their classrooms.

The division is announcing the change approximately two months before implementation to give families time to prepare.

“This update is not a reflection of a lack of trust in our families,” Wright wrote. “Rather, it reflects our proactive responsibility to eliminate vulnerabilities and safeguard our students and staff.”

The new procedure does not prohibit parents from entering schools for scheduled meetings, volunteer activities, or other approved purposes.

Those visits will continue to require compliance with established visitor procedures, including checking in at the main office and presenting identification.

A Procedure Change, Not a New School Board Policy

During the November 4 meeting, a representative of the Health and Safety Committee explained that the change was intended to strengthen existing security practices.

She also clarified an important distinction in the letter’s wording.

Although the original communication referred to the change as a new policy, officials said it is an update to morning drop-off procedures rather than a newly adopted School Board policy.

Board members questioned how the change would be documented and whether objecting parents could request a specific written policy.

Wright explained that the division already has visitor procedures governing access to school buildings.

The concern is that the current practice of allowing parents to walk into school buildings during morning arrival does not consistently follow those procedures.

One board member described the morning activity as chaotic, with numerous adults entering buildings while staff members are also managing arriving students.

Wright said he had worked in school divisions where parents dropped children off at the entrance rather than accompanying them to classrooms.

He specifically mentioned his previous experience in Spotsylvania and King George counties.

The discussion also raised questions about special occasions, including the start of the school year and events such as Thanksgiving lunches, when many parents and family members visit schools.

Officials said the Health and Safety Committee is reviewing how those events can continue while better controlling building access.

Possible adjustments could include staggered arrival periods, modified lunch schedules, and improved visitor check-in procedures.

No specific exceptions or final procedures for those events were announced during the discussion.

For now, the January 6 change applies to routine morning drop-off.

School Board Approves November 11 Meeting on E. Wilson Morrison

The board also took action on the ongoing structural investigation at E. Wilson Morrison Elementary School.

Earlier in the meeting, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Charles Costner outlined a proposed accelerated schedule for selecting a forensic structural engineering firm.

Proposals from engineering companies were due November 5 at 2 p.m.

Approximately seven firms had participated in a voluntary walkthrough of the building.

Costner explained that the division hopes to move through the evaluation, funding, and contract approval process as quickly as possible while complying with Virginia procurement requirements.

Later in the meeting, the School Board formally approved a special meeting for Wednesday, November 11, at 6 p.m., at the School Board office, 210 North Commerce Avenue in Front Royal.

The meeting will focus on the engineering procurement process.

A School Board Facilities Committee meeting was also scheduled for 5 p.m. that same day, immediately before the special meeting.

The proposed next steps include seeking authorization to request funding from the Warren County Board of Supervisors on November 17.

If funding is approved, the School Board could consider selecting an engineering firm on November 18.

The approved November 11 meeting gives the division an opportunity to begin that process, although the subsequent funding request and contract approval remain dependent on additional decisions.

E. Wilson Morrison has remained closed since August because of structural concerns, with students and staff relocated while the division investigates the building’s condition.

Board Approves After-School Care Pilot Program

In another action, the School Board approved moving forward with a one-year pilot after-school care program through Right at School, a company that provides supervised enrichment and childcare services.

Costner said the division previously authorized an RFP for expanded after-school care at several elementary schools.

However, changes involving existing programs, including the relocation of the Salvation Army’s Red Shield program following E. Wilson Morrison’s closure, prompted administrators to consider a different approach.

Under the approved pilot, Right at School would likely operate at Ressie Jeffries Elementary School during the 2027–28 school year.

The program would offer students supervised activities after the regular school day, potentially including academic enrichment, recreational activities, and other structured programming.

Costner emphasized that the proposed arrangement would not involve a direct program expense to Warren County Public Schools.

Parents choosing to enroll their children would pay participation fees.

Those fees were not available during the meeting. Costner said the company has procedures for working with families based on individual circumstances.

Board members questioned whether the program could interfere with existing facility rentals, particularly use of school gyms and cafeterias.

Costner acknowledged that scheduling conflicts could occur but said the division would work to coordinate available space.

He also noted that the pilot would proceed only if enough families enrolled to make the program financially viable for the provider.

If participation proved too low, the company might not operate the program.

After the pilot year, the division would evaluate its results before considering a broader competitive procurement process.

$3,000 Donation Will Help Create Jaguar Courtyard

The board accepted a $3,000 donation from the Kiwanis Club to support a new outdoor space at Ressie Jeffries Elementary School.

Second-grade teacher Ashley Wood presented plans for the Jaguar Courtyard, an effort to transform an underused central courtyard into a welcoming area for students and staff.

Wood explained that the school’s outdoor space is not being used to its full potential.

The project would create a place where students and staff could enjoy fresh air, build relationships, and take a break during the school day.

The Kiwanis donation will support the first phase of the project, including purchasing picnic tables and benches.

Wood said additional improvements could follow as the project develops.

Kiwanis Club President Mike Waters attended the meeting and expressed support for the effort, noting the organization’s long-standing commitment to serving children.

Board members accepted the donation with appreciation.

$50,000 Teacher Residency Grant Accepted

The School Board also approved accepting $50,000 in grant funding associated with Virginia Commonwealth University’s RTR teacher residency program.

Human Resources Director Rachel Drake explained that the funding would support tuition for two prospective teacher residency participants.

The program is intended to help prepare future teachers through an extended residency experience working alongside experienced educators.

The division plans to run the program next school year.

Drake said administrators are also requesting $16,000 in the next budget to compensate two mentor teachers who would work with the residents.

She emphasized that the grant funding must be accepted during the current fiscal year, even though the anticipated residency placements would begin later.

If the division does not recruit the expected participants, unused grant funds would be returned rather than becoming an expense to the school system.

Board members approved accepting the funding.

December School Board Meeting Moved to December 9

The board approved moving its regularly scheduled December 2 meeting to Wednesday, December 9, 2026.

Wright recommended the change because of the Thanksgiving holiday and the time needed to prepare and publish meeting materials.

The December 9 meeting will replace the originally scheduled December 2 regular meeting.

Board Approves Policy Revisions and Governance Handbook

The Board received final approval of two policy revisions.

The first involved Policy BBFA, addressing conflicts of interest and disclosure of economic interests.

The revision adds procedures related to reporting potential conflicts of interest or ethical concerns involving federal funds, following recommendations from the Virginia Department of Education’s fiscal monitoring process.

The second revision involved Policy DJF, concerning purchasing procedures.

That update incorporates federally required contract provisions, including requirements related to debarment and suspension, contract termination, and equal opportunity.

Both revisions were approved.

The board also adopted its School Board Governance and Operating Protocol Handbook, which establishes expectations and procedures for board operations.

Members discussed making the handbook readily accessible on the school division’s website.

New Substitute Pay Rate Approved

The final action item involved a change to the division’s substitute pay scale.

The board approved establishing a $350-per-day rate for substitutes temporarily filling division-level related-services responsibilities.

Drake explained that the new classification is intended for individuals filling temporary roles involving responsibilities across the school division rather than positions limited to a single school building.

The rate is higher than some existing administrative substitute classifications.

When questioned about the difference, Drake explained that division-level responsibilities can involve oversight and services affecting multiple schools.

The revised salary scale was approved.

Facility Rental Fees to Receive Another Review

During board member requests, Melanie Salins asked that the division revisit concerns about school facility rental charges.

She referred to earlier questions about changes in rental costs, including custodial fees.

Board members requested a clearer comparison of current charges and previous rates.

Wright said the division had already reviewed some of the concerns and made certain adjustments.

The division will present additional information at an upcoming work session.

Safety and School Operations Remain Central Concerns

The November 4 meeting covered a wide range of issues, from staffing and student programs to building safety and administrative procedures.

But two developments will have particularly immediate implications for families.

The newly approved November 11 special meeting keeps the E. Wilson Morrison structural investigation moving toward a potential engineering contract.

And the January 6 morning arrival change will affect the daily routines of families accustomed to walking their children directly to classrooms.

School officials say the goal of the arrival change is to establish more consistent control over building access while ensuring students continue to receive help and supervision.

For parents and guardians, the coming weeks will provide an opportunity to help children become comfortable with entering school independently and following the new procedures.

The division has emphasized that families remain welcome at schools for authorized activities.

Beginning January 6, morning drop-off will end at the designated student entrances, where school staff will take over responsibility for guiding children to class.

Watch the Warren County School Board Meeting of November 4, 2026.