As most Upstate students return to class next week, 106.3 WORD’s “Back to Schools ’22 Series” is taking a look at transparent backpacks and other new safety policies in Upstate school districts.
Laurens School District 55 last month announced a new policy requiring students to wear transparent backpacks starting this school year. You can read more about this new transparent bag policy in our original story from when it was first announced here.
However, that’s not the only security measure the school district is planning to implement. Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Services of Laurens School District 55, Jody Penland, said metal detectors are also going to be a part of the district’s added security measures this coming school year.
“We’re really just looking at implementing more layers of security and protection for our students, staff and buildings,” Penland said. “We already kind of keep locked doors, we’re already getting ready to implement metal detectors in our middle and high schools, and we’re just looking at that extra added layer of protection to also include the clear bags.”
You can listen to the full interview with Assistant Superintendent Penland below:
Other school districts are implementing similar measures, such as Greenville County’s new weapons detection systems.
Greenville County also has a similar clear bag policy, but for their sporting events. It was originally implemented during the 2018-2019 school year.
