In the wake of the mass killing in South Florida, a Michigan school has launched a “no bag” policy for its students, according to reports.
Starting Feb. 26, students at Ionia Middle School will be forced to leave their bags — including purses — in their lockers throughout the school day, WNEM reported.
Principal Wayne E. Piercefield III announced the new safety procedure in a letter to parents and students Thursday.
“There was a horrific event at a school in Florida that has caused us to examine our safety procedures meticulously and with the intent to provide further protection,” the letter read.
“Once students have been released to their lockers in the morning all bags, including purses, must be placed in the students’ lockers until the end of the school day,” Piercefield said in the letter.
Piercefield said students are getting a week to get used to the new policy before it takes effect.
The principal said the idea has been mulled even before Wednesday’s shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where deranged gunman Nikolas Cruz allegedly killed 17 people.
“It’s going to be a change for our students, it’s going to be an adjustment for our students, it’s going to be an adjustment for our staff but change is a good thing and we’re doing it for the right reasons,” Piercefield said, according to WLNS.
Some parents took to social media to voice their support for the new policy, while others said keeping bags in lockers will not solve the problem and prevent mass shootings.