FCPS changes its search and seizure policy

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – The Fayette County Board of Education voted unanimously Monday night to change the district’s search and seizure policy, which means students can be searched by metal detectors when they enter school, but also randomly.

Under the new policy, individual students can be searched if there’s reasonable suspicion  to believe the student is concealing a weapon.

This change comes after students from three Fayette County high schools were arrested on charges involving weapons and the safety of campuses earlier this month.

Monday’s vote reverses the district’s position on fixed metal detectors and searches of all students that were originally thought to be too expensive and time consuming.

FCPS Superintendent Manny Caulk says Frederick Douglass High School will be the first in the district with stationary metal detectors and that they are scheduled to be in place by the end of the school year.  He says other high schools and middle schools could soon follow.  School administrators will be trained to use the metal detectors.

Also Monday night, the district’s new emergency notification and mass communication app was unveiled.  It’s called FCPS KY.  It’s designed to provide information more quickly among students, parents, teachers and administrators, especially during bad weather and emergencies.  You can find it in the App Store and Google Play.