LA GRANGE ISD IMPLEMENTS NEW BACKPACK RULE
In the aftermath of the school shooting in Uvalde, many school districts around the state are looking at measures to help protect their students when they return to class. La Grange ISD is getting the ball rolling.
La Grange ISD Superintendent Andy McHazlett announced that only transparent backpacks will be allowed when students begin school next month.
McHazlett said the decision was made after discussing the situation with members of the La Grange School Board, School Operations Director Sharon Muzny, and La Grange Police Chief David Gilbreath.
The rule will apply to all campuses.
The new backpack rule does not apply to athletic bags, band instrument cases, lunch boxes, or small containers stored inside backpacks.
McHazlett said that transparent backpacks that are tinted with a color, or backpacks made of a mesh material will be allowed as long as you can see through them.
La Grange is also looking into other alternatives such as metal detectors, a school guardian or school marshal program, and school resource officers.
McHazlett said that the Board of Trustees will be having further discussions on these issues. He told the Fayette County Record, “There’s not one cookie cutter answer for everyone. You have to see what your community needs.”
Cheaper than hiring extra security? How ridiculous. Clear backpacks do nothing to prevent crime, ask any inner city school district. They’ve already tried it.
Sorry, What? This seems like the school board is doing something just to look like they’re doing something, even if it won’t be doing anything useful or helpful. But, by golly, they’re doing SOMETHING! Who cares that the murders in Uvalde had absolutely nothing to do with a backpack being transparent or not. Who cares that, as 3reds pointed out, other containers are still allowed. Who even cares that, as the school board considers hiring or placing school resource officers, that school police were absolutely useless, and criminally negligent, in the Uvalde massacre. Perhaps a different approach to backpacks could be considered, such as ballistic backpacks for the children, armed school staff, and strictly controlled access to any school building entrance. Knee-jerk reactions never more than an optical illusion of thoughtful action.
Good idea, seeing as how the shooter was not a student at the school when he entered the school. But band instrument cases, which are plenty big enough to put an entire arsenal of weapons, are acceptable.
My thoughts exactly. Not to mention the large gym bags…