Students will not be able to bring their backpacks to school starting May 27 due to the recent elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Students will only be allowed to bring bags that are clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC and do not exceed the 12” W x 6” D x 12” H limit.  Ziploc bags, small hand or clutch bags, and medical bags are all permitted after inspection and approval by campus security. 

Students like Arielle Gomez believe that having the no backpack policy is a little inconsiderate for the students. 

“We’ve been doing the no backpack policy towards the end of the school year since middle school, but I just don’t like the fact that our teachers are still giving us assignments,” junior Arielle Gomez said. “I believe that if a gunman is coming to school during the last days, they could hide a gun anywhere even without a backpack.” 

But students like junior Isaiah Saldana believe that the no backpack policy is a necessary safety precaution. 

“I do think that it’s a little inconsiderate that students can’t bring their backpacks to school since students are still taking finals and teachers are still giving assignments,” Isaiah said. “But I do think it’s necessary for our safety, because things are changing, and we’ve got to do something to avoid mass school shootings.” 

There has also been some debate amongst school districts on whether schools should have metal detectors or bag searches for students and teachers before they enter the school and students have voiced that this is an invasion of privacy. 

“I do feel that it’s a good idea to have a bag search or metal detector especially after everything going on,” senior Celeste Garcia said. “Nothing is changing, and I don’t think it’s an invasion of privacy because there isn’t anything that students should be hiding in their bags anyway.”