AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today October 9, 2026
Teachers in Fairfax County Seek End to Weapons Monitoring Role
Teachers in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) are demanding that the school district remove their responsibility to monitor for weapons at school entrances. More than two dozen teachers rallied outside a school board meeting on Thursday night, calling for a change in school policy regarding weapons detection systems.
Lack of Training and Safety Concerns Raised by Educators
Educators argued during the rally that teachers are not trained or equipped to handle weapons monitoring duties. They emphasized that overseeing weapons detection systems is neither part of their job description nor within their expertise. Julianne Link, vice president at-large of the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers, stated, “They are not trained to be cops or security guards. They are trained teachers. And they should not have to stand in front of a detector and check for weapons.”
Calls for Policy Change and Grievance Filings
The teachers voiced their intent to pursue formal grievances if the policy is not changed. Julianne Link explained, “We are trying to put a grievance in place, which basically demands that teachers can teach only and that they’re not in charge of any security of any kind.” Justin Toney, a building representative for Lake Braddock Secondary School with the Fairfax Education Association, expressed that the additional duty has negatively affected teachers’ ability to focus on teaching.
Toney added, “We’re asking the board to make a higher-level decision here, because it seems that if, as we said at the recent hearing about this before the superintendent, that principals have no restrictions on what they can assign teachers to do.”
FCPS Response on School Security Duties
According to FCPS, teachers are currently asked to assist students as they pass through the Opengate screening process—a responsibility described as being similar to other supervision duties, such as monitoring hallways, lunchrooms, or bathrooms. Last month, FCPS told DC News Now that the weapons monitoring duty does not affect teachers’ scheduled planning time and is done in conjunction with school administrators and security staff.
In a statement, FCPS stated, “We all share a mutual commitment to making sure our students are able to learn in the safest environment possible.”
Continued Advocacy from Fairfax County Educators
Teachers who rallied outside the recent school board meeting made it clear that they intend to persist in their advocacy. The chant, “Whose schools? Our Schools. Whose rights? Our rights,” highlighted their determination. Julianne Link said, “We’re at the school board meeting to show the board of supervisors that we are not backing down and that we will be filing grievances and that we will win this.”
Ongoing Debate About School Security Policy
The issue of assigning teachers to weapons monitoring duties remains a topic of concern and debate within Fairfax County Public Schools. The teachers’ protests and grievances highlight ongoing teacher safety concerns and debate about appropriate school security policy as the district continues to use Opengate screening at its entrances. The final decision now falls to the Fairfax County School Board as educators seek a resolution to their grievances.
Source: dcnewsnow.com.
