(Seguin) — Last month’s incident in which a student discharged a loaded gun while on a school bus has prompted the Seguin ISD to consider even more security measures.
Seguin ISD Superintendent Matthew Gutierrez says the first change will occur at the elementary school level.
“As I mentioned during a news conference we hosted that afternoon, I have discussed the idea of expanding our clear backpack policy with my administrative team. Moving forward, we are phasing in a clear backpack policy for our elementary school students. Parents who wish to purchase a clear backpack for their elementary students are encouraged to do so. We are in the process of ordering clear backpacks to provide to those families who may be experiencing financial hardships. We realize that it will take time to phase in this new policy, especially since we have already started the school year. The expectation is that all of our elementary and prekindergarten students who use a backpack will have a clear one by the start of the second semester in January,” said Gutierrez.
“Information will be sent to parents on this new policy along with details on how the district will distribute clear backpacks to our elementary school students.”
Dr. Gutierrez says he believes a clear backpack is yet another tool in helping to keep kids safe. In the incident involving the school bus at Jefferson Avenue Elementary School, it was reported that the young student had brought the loaded weapon from home in his backpack.
Kids at the district’s middle and high school campuses were already required to have clear backpacks. That rule went into effect two years ago at all secondary schools. The new change will mean that elementary school students will also have to make the switch later this year.