Clear backpacks mandated for West Memphis Schools

School board issues requirement for upcoming school year K-12

By JOHN RECH

news@theeveningtimes.com

Never has school security been under more scrutiny. After a national rash of spring semester shooting tragedies school boards began reviewing policies and procedures to reduce potential for violence. In West Memphis one junior high boy shot and wounded himself in an accidental discharge of a handgun off

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The West Memphis School Board voted to augment school security by requiring students to carry clear backpacks. Most students tote school provided tablets from school to home and back each day. The seethrough book bags cost about $20 or more online.

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campus on his walk home he secretly toted to East last year. Gunfire unrelated to students, staff or faculty in the street near Lehr Arena led to a lockdown at the Academies of West Memphis last year. West Junior high locked down with a gun on campus rumor. The West Memphis School District last week got tougher than airport security and added to its robust security procedures by mandating see through book bags for its 5,000 students.

Security measures already standing in the school district included Sky Cop cameras courtesy of Southland Casino outside each public-school campus in the city. The new school buildings were designed to funnel visitors through staff monitored entrances. Each WMSD campus was staffed with a West Memphis Police School Resource Officer (SRO). Campus cops not only build positive community relationships with student and their families, but also work a security beat in each school. The SRO patrols the hallways and double check classroom doors remain locked during each period to prevent intruders. Student bags were subject to wanding or search by SRO and school staff members. The school board decided clear backpacks for students allowed for more and quicker inspections for weapons and contraband coming into school.

The West Memphis School District announced the changes via a June 22 bulletin that it circulated on its social media. With the new superintendent yet to begin work, the school board unilaterally set the new policy with some exceptions. The new policy did not impact athletic gear bags, school band bags, purses or lunch bags.

“Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year clear backpacks will be required of students in grades Kindergarten through 12th grade. Students will be able to use band and athletic bags, purses and lunch bags which are subject to search and wanding.”

For those families that had planned to reuse or hand down schoolbook bags the new policy presented another financial burden. Most students tote home school provided electronic tablets for homework and recharging each day. Clear plastic book bags cost about $20.

The state sales tax holiday comes ahead of the opening of school first semester. School supply tax relief included clear backpacks and was set for the weekend of August 6 and 7 this year. The tax break also covers the purchase of certain electronic devices, school and art supplies, instructional materials and clothing.

The city’s community outreach planned to give away school supplies along with the 300 of the newly required clear backpacks. Community Outreach Director Tawana Bailey quickly moved to include the newly required clear backpacks for the event.

“While it may serve as an inconvenience some, it’s a safety measure for all,” said Bailey. “We saw some of the parents were upset with the policy change. Clear backpacks are a little bit more expensive than regular backpacks.”

Though the school district and city stood as completely separate entities, the city planned to provide 300 book bags through private donations like that made already by Clark Towing. The back-to-school community resource fair was slated for Saturday, August 6, in the old West Memphis District Courthouse parking lot, 100 Court Street, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students must be present to receive supplies. For more information call community outreach (870) 732-7534.