SUFFOLK, Va. — SUFFOLK, Va. — Suffolk Public Schools said it will begin giving middle and high school students clear backpacks next week.
Starting Monday, students can get the backpacks on a volunteer basis during lunch, according to a post on King's Fork High School's Facebook page.
"These clear book bags will allow campus staff to ensure that prohibited items are not included in the student's belongings and will help make security checks more fluid and efficient for students," the post from community engagement facilitator Melvin Bradshaw, said.
On Friday, News 3 talked with Superintendent Dr. John Gordon III. He said the bookbags are part of a multi-layered approach to security.
"Searching over 1,700 students, even if you’re using multiple areas of entries in the building, takes time," stated Dr. Gordon. "So the thought is - if kids have clear bookbags, we’re actually going to create a separate line for them. And that’s the incentive for the kids, because the kids also get tired of waiting in the line."
The superintendent said the schools perform bag searches on random days, unannounced. The middle and high schools also have metal detectors.
He said he knows there will be critics, but he's trying to think outside the box.
"We want to provide another opportunity for transparency, another opportunity to make things efficient in the school and for staff. But if it just does one thing to prevent that from happening, it’s a win."
Dr. Gordon added, "You’ve heard the comments people say 'well if somebody wants to bring something in, they’re just going to try it another way.' Okay, well, they can try it another way but we’ll have a response for that, too. It’s not like we’re going to always share every safety measure we’re going to do, because when you do that, that gives whoever wants to do something harmful, an opportunity to plan for it."
Suffolk Schools says they ordered 5,000 clear backpacks at a cost of $50,000 using funds from their operating budget.
Here's a list of schools getting the backpacks:
-King's Fork High School
-Nansemond River High School
-Lakeland High School
-Turlington Woods School
-Colonel Fred Cherry Middle School
-Forest Glen Middle School
-John F. Kennedy Middle School
-John Yeates Middle School
-King's Fork Middle School
