PLANTATION, FLA. (WSVN) - The auditorium at Plantation High School was filled with parents, students, and teachers for a town hall meeting that focused on school safety.
On Monday, many of those in attendance said they were against the new proposition that requires all Broward County students to have clear backpacks next school year.
More than 150 people spoke in the meeting but they only got 30 seconds, parents and students felt it wasn’t enough time to discuss the issue.
“This 30 seconds is really a shame, if you really wanna hear us, 30 seconds is not long enough for a coherent message,” said a parent at the meeting.
Speakers did not hold back from letting Broward County School board members know their thoughts on, what district officials call security initiatives for their schools.
Those initiatives included the possibility of implementing clear backpacks, metal detectors and discussions over uniforms.
“Put your money where it’s going to work,” said a man.
The focus, of the meeting, was the clear bags.
An overwhelming number of people at the meeting said that they don’t want them to implement the clear backpacks because they don’t see any proof that it will cut down crime and also believe that it is an invasion of privacy.
Many said it’s not a solid solution and the focus should be on things related to Mental Health instead.
Some expressed why they were in favor of it.
Toward the end of the meeting, families demanded that each school board member should publicly tell them which way they would plan to vote.
Some members didn’t hold back and others didn’t give a clear answer.
“Again, I appreciate all the feedback and look forward to additional board conversations,” said Broward County School Board member Torey Alston.
Families of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas victims were also present.
There was a closed-door meeting with security personnel recently that approved and announced that they were moving forward with a policy on clear bags for the 2023-2024 school year.
“I am a parent of three, two at Fort Lauderdale High School and one at the North Andrews Garden Elem School, you should not have the person on that stage right now,” said another parent in the meeting.
On Tuesday, the school board met to discuss the backpack policy. It is unknown if they will vote at that time.
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