Students and parents urge board to reverse Mount Pleasant Middle School no‑backpack policy

Public comment at the Jan. 6 meeting focused heavily on a new policy at Mount Pleasant Middle School that restricts drawstring backpacks and encourages a single‑handle carrying case.

Kelly Connell (resident and parent) said she led a petition of more than 240 families and asked the district to share the studies or safety rationale behind the policy and to consult a pediatric orthopedist. Students who spoke described repeated trips and falls on stairs, difficulty carrying water bottles and Chromebooks in the permitted case, and increased stress and organizational problems between 3‑minute class transitions. One student said, "My shoulder hurts due to the weight of a single strap case," and others reported daily trips and dropped Chromebooks. A parent who participated online said she had documented a fall and disputed shifting explanations from staff about the policy's rationale.

Why it matters: students, parents and the teachers' union framed the issue as both a safety and an equity concern (noting neurodivergent students who use backpacks as accommodations). The Livingston Education Association president congratulated the new superintendent but also emphasized collaborative work with the district.

What board heard and next steps: the board acknowledged the public comments and indicated staff would follow up; no policy reversal or formal action was taken that night. Parents requested that the administration provide the study or evidence supporting the change and to reexamine the policy's physical and accommodation impacts.