(Photo provided by Christian Hudspeth) Marietta City Local School District’s Superintendent Mary Schaeffer speaks with the staff during their first day back on Monday.

It’s back to school season in Washington County and the local school districts are starting the 2025-26 school year with updates to the curriculum, services for the students and parents, and more.

Fort Frye Local Schools will welcome students today with several changes, including seven new staff members, expanded health services, and upgraded safety technology.

Health care access will also expand on campus. Through a partnership with Copeland Health, mobile health services will now be available every Monday that school is open.

“We had it about once a month last year. Now we’re doing it every Monday, and it’s open to the community,” Superintendent StephanieStarcher said. “The staff and students are prioritized.”

Safety upgrades are another major focus. Fort Frye has installed the ROCS (Raptor OnCampus Security) system, which works with the district’s surveillance cameras.

(Photo provided by Christian Hudspeth) The Marietta High School band members visited the seventh-graders to try and recruit them for the band earlier this week.

“It uses the software programs through our camera surveillance to do weapon detection and then visitor recognition and license plate reading for people who may be prohibited to be on campus,” Starcher said.

The district is also adjusting its cell phone policy to comply with new state legislation requiring updates by January.

“Our cell phone policy is no cell phones, K-8, which is the same as last year,” Starcher said. “And then grades 9-12 can have it during the lunch period for now.”

Students at the high school will see more academic opportunities, particularly in College Credit Plus.

“We hadn’t had any CCP science courses on campus ever. This year is the first year offering those on campus,” Starcher said.

Marietta City Schools also goes back to school today and is gearing up for a year of technology updates, additional health services, and policy changes that benefit staff, students and parents.

Superintendent Mary Schaeffer is starting her first year at the district and is excited about the comprehensive plan they’ve created for the students.

“The Akron Children’s Hospital partnership is starting this year and it offers additional support for parents who aren’t able to take off work and pick their child up from school for a doctor’s appointment,” said Schaeffer.

The clinic will be onsite with an Akron’s nurse available at Marietta three days a week along with telehealth care and an assistant nurse on site. The goal is to keep student attendance up and help the parents who have busy schedules.

Schaeffer said they’ve been using an online platform called Apptegy but they’re utilizing more features this year. The features include live directions to sports games and live updates on school events and access to the lunch menu.

“This is a communication tool for parents to use and we’re learning how it can serve our needs to further help staff, students and parents stay connected,” said Schaeffer.

Similarly to Fort Frye, Marietta will also be implementing updated cell phone policies that align with Gov. Mike DeWine’s new state legislation.

“We’re requiring that students leave their cell phones in their lockers during school hours except for students who have been permitted to use it,” she said. “This is part of a comprehensive policy that reduces distractions during the school day.”

Warren Local School District’s students are on their third day back and Superintendent Kyle Newton said that in his 13 years at the district, this was the best opening day he’s ever had.

“There’s lots of cleaning and regular maintenance required for getting ready to go back to school, so the building was prepared and everyone did a great job,” said Newton.

Newton said there are many updates to the curriculum and additional health services for the students this year. They’re introducing a new math curriculum at the elementary since they’ve been focused on improving and updating the sciences, he said it’s time to update the math-focused educational initiatives.

“The teachers have really been working hard on this program,” he said. “We want to focus on what the students need and what they want to do–student-centered instruction–so they’re ready for life after graduation.”

He said that they’re introducing Flex Fridays which will take effect in two weeks. According to Newton, Flex Fridays are an initiative that focuses on hands-on and community-based learning. He said that there will be groups who go to the Washington County Career Center for the day, students who will visit local businesses in the community, or listen to speakers who come to the school and teach the students about workforce opportunities.

“We want to do what’s best for the kids and give them the academic opportunities they need to prepare them for life after school, this isn’t about certain grades either, we’re focusing on 100% of our students,” said Newton.

Another significant addition to the district is the school-based health clinic which will be recognized at the ribbon cutting ceremony at Warren High School on Friday.

A $1.3 million grant awarded through the Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative, with the grant prepared by Nationwide Children’s Hospital, provided investment for the clinic. In partnership with Hopewell Health Centers, the clinic is scheduled to open once it’s fully staffed in September.

Belpre City Schools’ first day was Aug. 13, Wolf Creek Local School District’s first day was Aug. 20, and Frontier Local School District’s was Aug. 20.