Featured photo: Flint Community Schools Superintendent Kevelin Jones
By Tanya Terry
Due to safety concerns because of threats, Southwestern Classical was closed twice last week.
As a result, a ban on backpacks begins for all Flint Community School buildings starting Monday, May 1 and lasting through the end of the school year.
A motion passed to implement the ban at The Flint Community School Board meeting April 25. The district’s administration and principals also approved the ban, with support from the Flint Police Department and other safety advocates.
“Across the country, we have seen an increase in threatening behavior and contraband, including weapons, being brought into schools at all levels,” said Superintendent Kevelin Jones in a letter posted to the district’s website.
“Backpacks make it easier for students to hide weapons, which can be disassembled and harder to identify or hidden in pockets, inside books or under other items,” the letter continued. “Clear backpacks do not completely fix this issue. By banning backpacks altogether and adding an increased security presence across the district, we can better control what is being brought into our buildings.”
Students who bring backpacks to school will be sent to the office so they can call their parents or guardians to pick up their belongings.
Small purses with personal items, clear plastic bags with gym clothes and lunchboxes will be allowed within reason. However, these bags will still be subject to search.
“We take threats against our school community and weapons brought onto school property very seriously, and parents and scholars should understand there are legal ramifications to both of these actions,” stated Jones in his letter.
Jones said the decision to ban backpacks was a difficult one, but that the ban is being implemented out of an abundance of caution to help “create safe spaces for children’s academic journeys.”
