Student advisory council presents survey findings and countywide recycling pilot to Fayette County board

Students on the superintendent's advisory council told the Fayette County Board of Education on April 28 that revised survey questions show most respondents feel safe but highlighted specific problem areas and next steps on a recycling pilot.

"Ninety-one percent of students who took the survey at Oak Hill High School felt very or mostly safe," a student presenter said, adding that Meadowridge and Midland Trail respondents reported similar results. Presenters said they revised the survey this year to specify location and time of incidents so the district can better target problem spots.

Student speakers said bullying remains a recurring theme, most commonly between classes and in hallways, and that many students reported feeling unsafe in school bathrooms. "There is a need for better monitoring of hallways," one presenter said, and students recommended installing vape sensors and upgrading ceiling tiles in bathrooms to deter illicit device use.

Student presenters described improvements made this year, including expanded lunch options (weekly sandwich, salad and wrap choices alongside the main daily meal), a countywide college- and career-fair at Oak Hill High School, and classroom engagement techniques such as interactive review games.

On recycling, students outlined a pilot launched April 14 at Midland Trail High School to collect cardboard and gather data for a countywide grant. The pilot schedule will use a four-week pickup from Whitecap Waste at about $250 per pull, totaling $750 for the three-month pilot; Whitecap donated a bin and the Fayette County Solid Waste Authority committed seed money, the students said. Partners named in the transcript included the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and the solid waste authorities in Fayette and Raleigh counties.

Students said they will complete the grant application by July 1; according to the presentation the grant winners will be announced in September and funds would be available in January 2027. A student said the grant, as stated in the presentation, could be "up to a $150" (amount not specified further in the transcript).

Board members asked how the students plan to broaden feedback beyond the advisory council. Students and board members suggested using social media, student councils at each school and direct outreach to reduce sampling bias. The board praised the students' work and presented cords to the seniors and other participants.

The presentation closed with the board thanking the student presenters for their work and noting the student voice is central to district climate and culture efforts. The board's next meeting is scheduled for May 5 at Oak Hill High School.