“We acknowledge that clear or mesh backpacks alone do not eliminate safety concerns,” the district said in a statement. “This is just one of several steps in the district’s comprehensive plan to ensure the safety of students and staff.”
The statement states that the district has already purchased clear bags and plans to distribute them before the start of the school year.
The district said the decision was based on feedback from students and parents, and recommendations from the district’s Safety Task Force.
Dallas backpack requirements follow a new scrutiny of safety measures after a shooter killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Yuvarde on May 24. This is the second deadly shooting at a K-12 school in the United States.
Dallas school districts aren’t the only ones in Texas that are strengthening security measures.
Last week, the school district in Seguin, near San Antonio, announced that it would move to a clear backpack policy for middle and high school students in the new school year.
The Greenville school district, about 50 miles northeast of Dallas, announced a shift to clean up backpacks in early June, keeping classroom doors locked and restricting access points for additional security measures for next year. Announced that it will be implemented. school.
“This common-sense measure is becoming more common in both school and public events,” said the Greenville District website.
The Southside School District of San Antonio, the Harper School District about 90 miles northwest of San Antonio, and the Ingleside School District near Corpus Christi all made similar decisions last month.
Clear backpack obligations are nothing new to US campuses.
After a 2018 shooting that claimed the lives of 14 students and 3 adults at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, students carry a transparent backpack when they return to school after spring break. I had to.
In Texas, some districts have specified that students will be able to put a small opaque pouch in their backpack to store personal belongings such as money and sanitary goods.
In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott last month announced $ 105.5 million to support additional school safety and mental health efforts through August 31, 2023.
The Governor’s Office said last month that the money would provide a bullet-resistant shield and funds for the Texas school district to purchase Silent Panic Alert technology.
Source: www.cnn.com
