Illinois school district to consider see-through backpacks for students in grades 5-12

An Illinois school district will hear a proposal Monday requiring all backpacks for grades 5-12 to be transparent in the next school year.

“It’s my hope that the board will support a clear book bag policy,” Gregory Wilson, vice president of the Peoria Public Schools board, told Gray Media’s 25News. “I want to be assured that the school district is doing what it can.”

Such a policy would help prevent banned items such as vaping pens – something the district contends with more than weapons, Wilson argued. 

“A lot of districts in the nation are trending towards that direction,” he said of implementing clear-bag policies. 

The district serves approximately 13,000 students across 27 school buildings. The requirement would not affect students in grades 4 and under. 

“I know some people might feel like it might be a violation of privacy, but at the same time, if they’re bringing just things related to school, there’s really nothing to be offended about,” said Theodore Johnson, whose children attend the district. 

Johnson also remembers dangerous items being brought to school during his time as a student: “I think a policy like that would be helpful.” 

Clear backpacks rescinded at Florida school 

Not all the nation’s public-school districts have successfully implemented such policies. 

As previously reported by The Lion, a south Florida school district announced a clear-bag requirement for the 2023-24 school year after an increase in violent crime. 

However, Broward County Public Schools voted to repeal the policy after community members voiced their opposition during a town hall meeting, according to the local NBC News affiliate. 

“All our school-based administrators want safe learning environments and to that end, they support the clear backpack initiative, but what they’re concerned about is the policing of clear backpacks,” said Chuck Harper of the Broward District Advisory Council. “The policing of clear lunch containers and how it interferes with what they’re tasked to do, which is learning.”