Waynesboro High School students returning to class on Wednesday after a holiday break will be greeted by metal detectors as part of a new safety measure being rolled out by the public school division.
The weapon detection systems will be used daily when entering the school to keep the school “a safe, welcoming place to learn and grow,” according to a post made to the school’s social media channels Tuesday.
At a school board meeting in October, Ryan Barber, assistant superintendent for Waynesboro Public Schools, said the school system was purchasing four of the units which can also be utilized for athletic events and other after-school activities. Similar systems have been used at Augusta County schools for approximately two years.
There were 75 school shootings in the U.S. in 2025, with 32 at elementary, middle and high schools. Forty three were on college campuses, according to an analysis by CNN with data from Gun Violence Archive, Education Week and Everytown for Gun Safety.
In Virginia, there have been at least 29 school shootings since 2008 with some hitting close to home: at the University of Virginia and Bridgewater College.
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While the system may initially be scary to some students, it should give parents more peace of mind that their children are safe at school.
The Waynesboro Police Department has dealt with two incidents this school year involving weapons: one involving a firearm in a student’s backpack and another involving a six-inch knife. Both incidents took place at William Perry Elementary School though school officials said there was “never any danger to students or staff.”
At WHS, the new safety measures will require all students to enter through designated entrances in the front and rear of the school.
Staff will be on hand to ensure things move smoothly.
Students may be asked to remove certain items from their bags including Chomebooks, binders, keys and umbrellas as they enter.
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Crystal Graham
