WHEELING — Ohio County Schools Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones explained the policy of randomly selecting students to go through metal detectors at Wheeling Park School to school stakeholders.

Jones addressed an online meeting of the school district’s safety committee Wednesday.

The detectors have been in use for two weeks, and “are nice,” according to Jones. They weigh about 15 pounds each and can be moved to different locations.

“But at the high school, you can’t run every single kid through it every single day or they’ll never learn anything,” Jones said. “It just causes backup in the lines, because sometimes they have to empty their bookbags and get their Chromebook out before they pass through. It does hold up things.

“The way they are using it at the high school – which is great — is just randomly just doing it. They take a big group of kids when they come in, and maybe the next group the next day. Or maybe they just randomly take them out of the line.”

The detectors also can be used at football games against major rivals when there are heated emotions and a chance for a fight, he continued.

“If there is any rise in safety concerns, we can use them there,” he said.

Ohio County Director of Emergency Services Lou Vargo talked about the Perry Weather app, and how it has been beneficial to both the county and the school district. Weather stations for the system have been installed at Wheeling Park High School and at The Highlands, and in the coming days a third will be installed at Heritage Port.

Each station is equipped with cameras and can be programmed to provide information such as how close lightning is approaching.

“If the weather station would show lighting within 10 miles of (Wheeling Island Stadium), the station would activate. An alarm goes off, and an announcement could be made at the stadium,” he said.

Vargo noted the same radar system was in use at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown last fall when evacuations were implemented during West Virginia University football games.

Jones added that the weather systems also can detect unhealthy humidity conditions that call for the shutdown of hot pre-season football practices.

“For the $5,000 it costs us each year, it’s money well spent,” he said.

In other safety matters, Jones noted that there is “almost” one full-time security officer in every school building, though at least two more need to be hired.

Presently, Triadelphia Middle School and nearby Steenrod Elementary School are sharing an officer, while West Liberty and Bethlehem elementaries are sharing another.

“The Wheeling PD has done a great job getting applicants, continually posting the jobs, and then setting up interviews,” Jones said. “We are continually hiring people. …

“As soon as we get two more applicants — which I am hoping happens before the start of the next school year — we will have a full-time person in every building, which is great.”

Jones added that he and Nicole Shepherd, behavior specialist and alternative education coordinator for Ohio County Schools, have been visiting schools to make safety checks. They also are checking in with staff to make certain they are aware of proper safety protocols.

“We ask them about the bleed kits – are they available and replenished?” he continued. “Are your cameras working? Do you see anyone propping doors? Do you see anybody outside?”

Jones noted they are also asking students if they are aware of the STOPit app — a service through which they can report safety concerns.

“There have been a handful of incidents this year that kids have reported through the ‘STOPit app,'” he said. “And we were able to track down and probably prevent a fight or any issue, or stop anyone talking about harming themselves.”

The STOPit app is downloaded onto all Chromebooks in use in Ohio County Schools, and all reports come in anonymously, Jones added. It is monitored by school officials, and if a report comes in during the night it goes to the Wheeling Police Department.