School safety continues to remain top of mind for schools and communities across the country. To ensure a safe school environment, the DeSoto Independent School District will re-introduce some existing district safety measures and implement new standards to support safe schools.
The district implemented uniforms for scholars this year in order for security personnel and staff to quickly distinguish students from visitors on campus. The district also announced that it would forgo the use of backpacks before extended breaks and during the last two weeks of school which is slated to be reenacted on Monday, May 13, 2024.
This measure is being taken out of an abundance of caution and to reduce safety concerns. Please note that a small clutch the size of a sandwich Ziploc or a pencil bag will be permissible for sanitary care and/or personal hygiene items.
Additionally, the district is increasing security at secondary campuses, particularly DeSoto High School, and instituting additional safety measures regarding traffic and student transitions at DHS including student arrival. During student arrival, scholars are asked to pass through metal detectors and submit to backpack searches.
The district’s head of security stated that more extensive backpack checks would be instituted. Security personnel previously screened backpacks; however, going forward personnel will more extensively evaluate the contents of backpacks.
The DeSoto Independent School District is committed to maintaining proactive safety measures to support the physical, social-emotional, and intellectual safety of district scholars. With this in mind, in addition to the continued implementation of uniforms for students in DeSoto ISD, the District will transition to the required use of clear backpacks for all scholars in grades six through 12 for the 2024-2025 academic year.
“Seeing what has been happening in schools across the country served as the impetus for district leaders to come together to deliberate on this very important change on behalf of our scholars and staff members,” said DeSoto ISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Usamah Rodgers. “The decision to implement clear backpacks is another layer of safety in district schools.”
DeSoto ISD Chief of Maintenance and Operations James Thomas, who also oversees the district’s safety and security operations said, “Clear backpacks, like uniforms, help us identify a concern quickly and are a deterrent to certain behaviors curbing concerns before a larger concern develops.”
The DeSoto ISD will share additional information regarding options for the purchase and distribution of durable, clear district-branded backpacks for families leading up to and throughout the summer in advance of the upcoming school year.
DeSoto ISD enacted a uniform-based dress code at the start of the 2023-2024 academic year inclusive of a solid color polo-style shirt or button-down shirts and solid color uniform bottoms. The use of uniforms supports the quick and easy identification of visitors and supports the district’s overall safety and security efforts. The district will continue its use of uniforms for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year.
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