Bernalillo Public Schools has implemented a new clear backpack requirement for students in grades 4–12, aimed at improving campus safety, according to Superintendent Matt Montaño. However, some parents told KOAT they are upset about a lack of communication — with many saying they didn’t learn about the change until right before school starts. “In full transparency, we did a very poor job of communicating this to families,” Montaño told KOAT on Wednesday. Montaño explained the decision comes as a response to incidents involving knives and Tasers, as well as a growing issue with drugs, including vaping, among students. “We don’t believe that this is the only solution to school safety, but this is one of the many things that we’ve put in place,” Montaño told KOAT. “We now have cameras in every school entrance. We have cameras in our hallways.” He added that BPS has security guards at every school campus and improved fencing around school grounds. The district has ordered clear backpacks for all students impacted. Many will receive them on their first day of school, or during back-to-school events like meet-the-teacher night or orientation, according to Montaño.BPS Parents like Esperanza Arrellin told KOAT that while they agree with increased school safety, they have other worries about the policy. “Being a mother of a teenager daughter that has her personal feminine hygiene, it’s just kind of uncomfortable for their situation,” Arrellin said. Montaño says female students will be able to use small bags to keep their hygiene products in, and they do not have to be made of transparent materials. Arrellin also said the policy was poorly communicated, saying she didn’t learn which grades would be impacted until just a few days before school starts. Montaño confirmed the late communication, saying, “we didn’t communicate it until about a month ago. And so, obviously, people are getting prepared for the school year… I have to own it and I can’t back away from that faux pas.”A full FAQ on the new clear backpack policy can be found here.
Bernalillo Public Schools has implemented a new clear backpack requirement for students in grades 4–12, aimed at improving campus safety, according to Superintendent Matt Montaño. However, some parents told KOAT they are upset about a lack of communication — with many saying they didn’t learn about the change until right before school starts.
“In full transparency, we did a very poor job of communicating this to families,” Montaño told KOAT on Wednesday.
Montaño explained the decision comes as a response to incidents involving knives and Tasers, as well as a growing issue with drugs, including vaping, among students.
“We don’t believe that this is the only solution to school safety, but this is one of the many things that we’ve put in place,” Montaño told KOAT. “We now have cameras in every school entrance. We have cameras in our hallways.” He added that BPS has security guards at every school campus and improved fencing around school grounds.
The district has ordered clear backpacks for all students impacted. Many will receive them on their first day of school, or during back-to-school events like meet-the-teacher night or orientation, according to Montaño.
BPS Parents like Esperanza Arrellin told KOAT that while they agree with increased school safety, they have other worries about the policy.
“Being a mother of a teenager daughter that has her personal feminine hygiene, it’s just kind of uncomfortable for their situation,” Arrellin said.
Montaño says female students will be able to use small bags to keep their hygiene products in, and they do not have to be made of transparent materials.
Arrellin also said the policy was poorly communicated, saying she didn’t learn which grades would be impacted until just a few days before school starts.
Montaño confirmed the late communication, saying, “we didn’t communicate it until about a month ago. And so, obviously, people are getting prepared for the school year… I have to own it and I can’t back away from that faux pas.”
A full FAQ on the new clear backpack policy can be found here.
