Board hears weapons-detection RFI update and a heated debate over backpack policy

District staff briefed the board on two safety-and-security items: an RFI for weapons-detection technology and continuing debate about backpack policy.

Kale (district staff) said the weapons-detection RFI closes tomorrow and district administration will evaluate the submissions and present aggregate findings at the Nov. 24 meeting; the RFI is informational only, not a purchase, and administration will provide board members access to raw submissions.

Separately, staff presented results from a student survey on backpack policy with 1,057 responses from the district’s four comprehensive high schools. The survey asked students how they would feel if the district required backpacks be stored in lockers and solicited open-ended feedback. Student Paige said most students now accept clear backpacks and would prefer to continue current practice rather than return to storing backpacks in lockers.

Board members debated the trade-offs: several members stressed safety considerations and noted that removing backpacks from classrooms can reduce the "fish in a barrel" vulnerability in hallways and classrooms; others urged caution about implementing a policy change mid-year, requested clarification about locker availability and medical exceptions (for example, students with diabetes), and emphasized the need to solicit broader input from parents and staff, not just students. Several board members recommended any major change be timed to start at the beginning of a school year to mitigate change-management issues.

No formal vote was taken on the backpack policy; staff said the policy (if advanced) would come back at a later meeting for action.