DESOTO, Texas — A North Texas school district is looking to avoid any end-of-the-year distractions, and they are implementing a few new procedures to help do so.
Last Friday, DeSoto Independent School District officials announced that no students in the 6th grade or higher are allowed to have backpacks for the rest of the school year. The rule goes into effect on Monday, April 24.
Students will be allowed to carry a small, sandwich-bag-sized clutch or a pencil bag to carry anything for personal hygiene products.
“This really is a proactive decision to make sure that we are staying ahead of and abreast of school safety and also making sure that we're creating an environment that allows students to stay academically focused,” said Tiffanie Blackmon-Jones, Chief of Communications for DeSoto ISD.
The backpack rule is one of a few procedures planned by the district in hopes of a smooth end to the school year.
“Our kids who are engaged in extra-curricular activities, whether it's band or dance or theater or athletics, we are asking them to take those bags and materials to those practice or locker room area and drop them off prior to the start of the school day,” Blackmon-Jones explained.
Campuses will be highly monitored by DeSoto ISD security staff and district-level staff members trained in safety and security.
“I think when you look at the activity around school safety, just in general across the country, there is genuine concern around how do we keep schools safe,” Blackmon-Jones said.
The district security staff will be keeping watch inside, outside, and around all campuses. Safety-trained staff members will use video surveillance to monitor any common areas.
If needed, the district will have central and support members come to campuses for extra support and supervision of students.
DeSoto ISD also wants limited hallway traffic during the school day and they are asking parents to pick up their students as soon as possible at the end of each day.
Any parents with questions about the changes are asked to reach out to their child's campus.
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