To carry out the safety measure, the district has approved a proposal to buy 16,500 clear backpacks, the district says in a news release.
"We understand that clear bookbags are not going to thwart all safety threats,” says Superintendent Terry Oatts. "However, they may be a deterrent for students bringing any inappropriate items to school and will enhance our multi-measured approach to increasing school safety.”
Clear bag policies have become more common at music festivals, sporting events and other large gatherings, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. The Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta requires clear bags, and Atlanta Public Schools has a similar policy for spectators at its athletic venues.
Some districts have turned to clear backpacks as a safety measure since the 1990s, but the policies often have met opposition from families, safety experts and students.
