Alachua County reverses clear backpack mandate for center, highschool
Alachua County college district officers in an about-face transfer determined to not transfer ahead with a transparent bookbag mandate introduced simply 24 hours earlier.
District officers introduced Monday afternoon that each one center and highschool college students can be pressured to make use of clear bookbags for the upcoming college yr in effort to assist curb an increase in youth violence.
College board members, the superintendent, Gainesville police chief and Alachua County sheriff all advocated for the plan which was met with fierce criticism, together with a web-based petition that gathered almost 2,000 signatures in beneath a day.
Tuesday, the district walked again these plans.
“After listening to from households in regards to the potential affect of a transparent backpack requirement for center and highschool college students, the district is not going to be shifting ahead with the requirement for the 2022-23 college yr,” a district voicemail left for folks mentioned.
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The choice to have clear backpacks comes after an increase in youth violence regionally and nationally this previous yr, college officers mentioned Monday, which incorporates the capturing at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas the place 19 college students and two lecturers died.
After the capturing, Alachua County district officers met with native legislation enforcement leaders to debate concepts to assist hold kids protected. Having clear bookbags, that are troublesome to search out in main retail shops, was among the many high suggestions, regardless of the thought not being totally fashioned and particulars hush till subsequent week.
The choice was finally made by district workers, not college board members.
Those that demanded the district stroll again its announcement argued the change accomplishes nothing and that clear luggage put an undue burden on already struggling mother and father, some including that plastic is dangerous to the setting and never as sturdy for heavy books.
One one that signed the Change.Org petition informed officers to control weapons not luggage.
“Clear luggage will solely make life tougher for college students,” one other signer wrote. “If somebody needs to carry a weapon on to highschool campus, they’re going to discover a method.”
In a information launch despatched out Tuesday, interim Superintendent Shane Andrew mentioned households and board members expressed their concern about the usage of clear backpacks.
“I’ve spoken with board members individually, with Chief Scott at GPD (Gainesville Police Division) and with Sheriff Watson on the Alachua County Sheriff’s Workplace, they usually agree we should always spend extra time discussing this and different security proposals,” Andrew mentioned.
In Could, an eighth-grade pupil at Fort Clarke Center introduced a gun to campus, which college board member Mildred Russell mentioned was an element within the transient mandate.
Board members Mildred Russell and Robert Hyatt have been in favor of getting a transparent backpack.
Andrew mentioned the district will collect enter from households, college students, staff and different group companions about methods that might promote security on a faculty campus.
“These are very difficult points, and there aren’t any simple options,” mentioned Andrew. “We have to work collaboratively to ensure our college students and all residents are protected in our colleges and locally.”
