@mom2mms : The middle school is no longer under lockdown. But they were. They called to explain the situation.

I'm just tired of this. It's getting out of hand. We're gettimg to the point where as long as no one dies it's like "o that's ok then". There should be no way a gun should be able to be brought into school undetected. Period. I'm not concerned with how clear backpacks is infringing on their rights. One thing doesn't fix everything, I know that. But different things put together create a better solution to a problem.

We need metal detectors and police presence at each school. Clear backpacks would be a good place to start.

I'm glad that the lockdown at the middle school has been lifted. There needs to be serious jail time for students that bring weapons to school.

@Fiona : I'm not even sure why my daughter needs a backpack. Hers is just crammed full of crap. They don't carry books because they leave them in class. And she rarely had homework.

If Humble ISD institutes clear backpacks, then Atascocita Middle School needs to start issuing lockers again. The kids have to haul absolutely everything around with them all day long because they don't allow them to use the lockers. There's no way a backpack made out of plastic can withstand that kind of load. My kids shoulders cannot withstand that kind of load. It's ridiculous.

Hargrave is still on lockdown. My son is standing by with other parents while they have dogs sweep the school before anyone can be released.

@Sammee : They don't use their lockers either but they leave their books in class. That's crazy they make them carry them all.

They just lifted lockdown.

@ENB : They don't carry classroom books, but do have to carry all of the binders and notebooks required. Her binder alone weighed 8 lbs! That's crazy! It only contains what is necessary and required by each class. Then she has her lunch, PE/athletic clothes and shoes, coat in the winter, two novels to read as required by her RELA teacher (which is ridiculous to make them carry the extra, just in case they finish the other). They need their lockers....were they really that much of a problem? It's simple, only punish the kids who break the locker rules, not the entire student body.

@Sammee : I think they need to change some things. Most of the schools don't use their lockers anymore. I was shocked when I took my friends daughter to her Timberwood 6th grade orientation. And that was 6 years ago.

As I said on another thread schools CAN be put into near total lockdown. In the security world there's no such thing as a 100% guarantee of protection, but many of the current vulnerabilities can be hardened. Of course in order to do that we're talking about a significant increase in manpower and related security equipment for EVERY school in the country. Will the responsibility for this be at the federal level or the individual states? If it falls to the states expect a sizeable increase in taxes to pay for it. School district police departments will have to hire more officers. Those districts that don't currently have a police force will probably have to form one unless local law enforcement agrees to take on that task. If so they too will most likely have to hire more officers.The officers or security personnel will have to control all entrances and exits from the building. Reducing the number of doors at a school, particularly a large one is not the way to go. Why, because most buildings, and I assume schools are not exempt, are built with fire codes in mind. God forbid there was a major fire and kids couldn't get out in a timely fashion because there were not enough exit points. The lawyers will have a field day.Kids will need to be searched and all their belongings scanned for potential weapons. All others would go through the same procedure. This will include teachers, administrators, parents, and visitors - no exception. Parking lots will also be secured. Additionally kids and others assigned to the school will need to wear photographic ID, preferably around their necks secured by a lanyard at all times while on campus. There will be exceptions while actively participating in PE or sporting activities for example. Visitors will be required to have a temporary ID with an expiration date displayed. If a kid is expelled their access to the campus will be immediately revoked. And all security and other personnel notified that they are on Do Not Admit status (DNA).As you see with this short example things can get pretty involved. And I can assure you if such measures were implemented there will be complaints from some parents saying their little darlings are being made to feel like criminals. But if the name of the game is security, this will be the road that we as a society had better be prepared to travel.

There's a board meeting tonight.

Just now

@Sammee : my daughter was at AMS the years they didn't allow them to use lockers & the next year when they removed them. It was a mess!! Those hallways were so crowded kids couldn't even open the locker doors! Carrying everything they brought to school with them. She was so happy to get to AHS with pockets again.