UPDATE: 10:21a Tuesday, May 29, 2018: Here is the official statement from the Palm Beach County School District: “It is a school by school decision for various reasons. This isn’t unusual across the country.”
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) — Neither the Palm Beach County School District nor the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office responded to questions over the holiday weekend regarding a “backback ban” being issued at area schools starting Tuesday and continuing through Friday, the final day of school.
Parents at one West Boca Raton elementary school, concerned with the seemingly bizarre last minute ban issued by a principal, have asked BocaNewsNow.com for information as to whether the ban is safety related.
Our answer: we just don’t know. We have been unable to obtain a sensible “on the record” response.
Frustrated and concerned parents — who have been on edge since the Parkland attack — say it is illogical that children are to leave backpacks and school bags at home, while still carrying folders, notebooks, lunches, water bottles and other school items. Parents and teachers — speaking with BocaNewsNow.com — question how students are expected to bring remaining items from schools home at the end of the week.
Teachers are being paid to teach through Friday and then return Monday for “post school” events, seemingly mitigating one suggestion that the backpack ban is merely to keep classrooms clean so teachers can start summer vacation right away.
But parents say if the ban is security related, it is unacceptable that they have not been told.
…Developing…
