DeSoto ISD implements a backpack ban for grades 6-12
DeSOTO (CBSNewsTexas.com) – DeSoto ISD has announced they are banning backpacks for the remainder of the school year.
Specifically, students in grades six through 12 are no longer allowed to bring backpacks to school starting Monday, April 24 until the last day of school, Thursday, May 25.
The school district said it's "in order to reduce any potential distractions and concerns and to facilitate a smooth remainder of the school year...this measure is being taken out of an abundance of caution and to reduce safety concerns."
"There generally is an uptick in activity of concern whether that may be altercations, security threats, intruders," said DeSoto ISD Chief Communications Officer, Tiffanie Blackmon. "Whether it's Pokémon cards or shaving cream or water balloons. We want to make sure the kids are not bringing items that could be a distraction to the school setting."
Students are allowed to bring a small clutch the size of a sandwich bag or a pencil bag for sanitary care or personal hygiene items.
Student athletes, band members or those in activities that require clothes or equipment are to leave them in designated areas.
Although the school district said the move is in an abundance of caution, they continued to say that high-traffic areas, common areas and areas around campuses will be monitored by security staff. Traffic in hallways during the school day will be limited.
"I'm not fixing to carry this Chromebook around by hand so when they ban backpacks, I'm not bringing it and therefore I'm not doing the work," said student Benjamin Robinson.
Robinson and a number of other students who don't have school lockers to store their things, disagree with the ban.
"I'm in the early college program which means I carry around a lot of stuff," said student Maniyah Fullylove. "I need my Chromebook, I need all my notebooks. I need the chargers that come with everything and that's a lot to have to carry around."
Parents are also being asked to pick up students as immediately as possible at the end of the school day.
But parents like Christina Lipscomb believe the ban goes too far.
"I just think they need more security," Lipscomb said. "Get your medical detectors just like the other schools and we will be OK in DeSoto."
