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The new rule is in response to a gun incident in August

By Abigail Roberts

Correspondent

HIGHLAND – After a student reportedly brought a firearm to Highland Elementary School in August, the school has decided to implement a clear or no backpack policy following Fall Break.

According to information sent to parents on Friday, Sept. 22,

Highland Elementary School families have a choice to send their child with a clear back pack or no backpack at all after Fall Break.

Fall Break is scheduled for Oct. 2-6.

The new policy begins Oct. 9 as students return to class.

According to the statement sent to parents the new protocol was recommended by several law enforcement agents and the State Security Marshall.

Parents were also asked to monitor the contents of their children’s backpacks daily to keep toys and other non-school items at home.

“The safety of your child is the most important thing to us,” the statement reads.

The decision comes after the Aug.14 incident, which resulted in three separate charges being filed against an elementary student.

The incident was self-reported to school officials by the student’s caregivers more than two weeks later, according to a statement released by the Lincoln County School District on Sept. 1.

Stanford Police immediately opened an investigation.

Since the incident, the Lincoln County Board of Education has approved the addition of three more School Resource Officers (SRO), bringing the total to seven, with the goal of having one SRO at each school in the district.