“The presence of enormous book bags in our building and in classrooms creates unnecessary obstacles for both teachers and students. Also, the mere weight of the bags that students are now in the habit of carrying cannot be healthy for their physical development.”
     
      Beginning this school year, Boardman High School students will no longer be permitted to carry book bags or backpacks in the hallways and into the classrooms. A school notification said “Students will still be permitted to carry book bags into the building at arrival time and out of the building at dismissal. This change will bring the high school in line with what all buildings in the district require.”
      “We recognize that this is a change that will require support and assistance. The high school will make time adjustments to the bell schedule to help students make this transition an easy one. Specifically, we are adding additional time to the morning entry period, in between classes, as well as at dismissal time,” the notification, that was only posted on the local school district’s web site said, adding “Student and staff safety are the chief reasons for this change, and we feel strongly that this will improve our day-to- day operations.”
      School Principal Cynthia Fernback penned the following letter on July 1 about the requirement, that is said to have started a petition drive among students who object to the change:
      Dear Spartan Families,
      I hope this letter finds you doing well and enjoying your summer. I wanted to give you some early notification of some changes to our building in effect for the upcoming school year.
      Beginning this school year, students will no longer be permitted to carry book bags in the hallways and into classrooms; instead, students will be permitted only to carry book bags into the building at arrival time and out of the building at dismissal.
      Upon arrival, students will visit their assigned lockers, empty their book bags into their lockers, and organize their books and materials for the day. At the conclusion of the day, again students will visit their assigned lockers and pack their bags for departure.
      We recognize that this is a change that will require some support and assistance. To that end, we will make time adjustments to the bell schedule to assist students in making this transition. Specifically, we are adding additional time to the morning entry period, in between classes, as well as at dismissal time.
      There are several reasons for this change. Chief among those reasons is student and staff safety. The presence of enormous book bags in our building and in classrooms creates unnecessary obstacles for both teachers and students. Also, the mere weight of the bags that students are now in the habit of carrying cannot be healthy for their physical development.
      Again, we recognize that this is a big change in our building’s culture, but we feel strongly that this is necessary. We will also have supports in place to assist students in reacquainting themselves with the whole idea of visiting, opening, and organizing their assigned school locker.
      As always, we thank you for your support.
      Sincerely,
      Cynthia Fernback, Principal