FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - Next school year, Broward County schools are going clear.
In an effort to better protect students and staff members, Broward County School District officials announced that only clear backpacks and bags will soon be allowed on all school campuses.
“It’s clearly just for security reasons,” said Connor Costa, a student at Stranahan High School in Fort Lauderdale
The new policy will go into effect on the first day of the 2023/24 school year starting on Aug. 21. It will not apply to teachers, staff, volunteers or visitors.
The school board made this decision on Friday after having a closed-door meeting with some security personnel.
“It will be a force multiplier for our security staff to have so many people able to report suspicious items,” said Broward County School Board Chair Lori Alhadeff.
Only clear bags, such as purses, duffel bags, fanny packs, lunch boxes, etc. will be allowed. The policy will be for all students in grades pre-K through 12.
“This added layer of security is a game-changer,” said Broward County Public Schools Interim Superintendent Dr. Earlean Smiley in a statement. “It will allow school security personnel and everyone on campus to quickly spot and report if someone has brought a prohibited item to school, and it will also help serve as a deterrent.”
Mesh and colored backpacks will not be permitted, even if they are transparent.
According to the district, all the contents inside a bag must be visible.
The only exceptions permitted are:
- A small non-transparent pouch for personal hygiene items.
- Thermal food containers carried inside clear lunch boxes.
- School-approved sport-specific carrying case for athletic equipment.
- School-approved instrument-specific carrying case for band equipment.
Costa and other Stranahan High students weighed in Friday on the policy change. Some of them said there are ways around all of this.
“Kids are the way they are. You try and do something, you try and fix a problem, and they’ll just find some other way to get around that problem,” said Costa.
Student Javien Sutherland gave an example.
“Say that someone puts a weapon in their book bag, right? Then they put clear book bags, so they see the weapon and they can confiscate it, but what if they put it in, like, their jacket or pants pocket. Then they would have to do something about that,” he said.
When asked whether the clear bag policy will make her feel safer, another student replied, “Actually, it’s not because we want to see what everybody has in their backpack. It’s because we want to have, like, a safe environment and protect ourselves.”
The policy is not a new idea for Florida schools. Other districts have tried it going all the way back to 1999, in the wake of the shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado.
The Broward district gave students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School clear backpacks months after the mass shooting in 2018, but the experiment only lasted a few weeks.
The reaction online this time has been largely negative.
A Twitter user wrote, “This is an invasion of privacy!! My daughter is going to feel completely uncomfortable going to school! I don’t want my kids to be bullied for what’s in their backpacks! The disrespect is real! 😠”
Another user wrote, “What about wallets? Those have to b transparent? How about folders? Transparent?? I mean come on, someone can hide something in a folder… I have lots more questions.”
“We know not one single measure, initiative will prevent 100%, but this is just another layer to ensure that we are doing everything in our power to prevent another tragedy from happening in our schools,” said John Sullivan with the Broward County School District.
A spokesperson for Miami-Dade County Public Schools did not immediately respond to 7News’ inquiry as to whether their district is considering a similar policy.
Click here for more information about BCPS’ clear bag policy.
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