Columbus school bans book bags after gun confiscated from student
The day after a firearm was confiscated from a student’s book bag at Jordan Vocational High School, the school announced book bags will be banned from campus, starting Aug. 15.
Jordan principal Ryan Hutson told the Ledger-Enquirer the ban is “partially” related to Tuesday’s firearm confiscation, which happened during the second day of the new school year.
Hutson said his administration had been discussing such a ban before the academic year even started, and he acknowledged the timing of the new policy is related to the firearm confiscation.
“Obviously, with things like that, when someone can carry a book bag, we don’t know what’s in there,” he said in a phone interview Thursday. “So that’s one of the things we wanted to also help ensure safety.”
Hutson noted each student is given a computer that gives him or her access to the content needed for classes.
“Our kids don’t carry a lot of books anymore,” he said. “They mainly just carry the Chromebooks. Most of the materials are online now, including a lot of our textbooks. So, besides maybe a binder and some pencils and papers and things like that, there’s not much else they need to carry.”
Students can carry those materials, including workbooks, in binders or in the Chromebook cases they are provided, Hutson said.
“The ban does not include purses and lunch boxes/bags,” he said in a follow-up email. “Students will be allowed to use those as before.”
The new policy announcement posted on Jordan’s Facebook page Wednesday says exceptions to the ban will be made for students with “documented medical issues” approved by the principal. Student athletes may still bring equipment bags and leave them in designated areas in the gym before classes. Book bags brought to school will be kept in the front office, where the student’s parent or guardian must retrieve it, the announcement says.
Muscogee County School District communications director Kimberly Wright and MCSD Police Chief Greg Arp didn’t reply to the L-E’s questions before publication, so it’s unclear whether any arrests or charges have been made regarding the Tuesday confiscation, what type of firearm it was and whether it was loaded.
This story was originally published August 11, 2022 at 12:01 PM.
