CMS Parents Question District's $442K Purchase Of Clear Backpacks

HUNTERSVILLE, NC — Parents are concerned that clear backpacks may not be enough of a solution to prevent more violence inside Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools this academic year.

With 140,000 students and 180 schools, school officials are looking for blanket security measures that will help prevent students from bringing firearms and other weapons to school.

According to CMS, 18 firearms have been found on CMS campuses, and that doesn't include multiple knives or other objects and weapons that have been confiscated. Multiple fights have led to lockdowns, including Hopewell High School in Huntersville.

There is no data for 2020 due to the pandemic, but the 2018-2019 school year saw 22 firearms brought to campus in total. With 18 halfway through the year, CMS is on track to almost double that.

Most of the violent incidents including dangerous fights have taken place at high schools, prompting the latest decision to buy clear backpacks immediately for high school students.

Superintendent Earnest Winston has been under scrutiny for his handling of the safety crisis, most recently under fire at a town hall in Huntersville where school board member Rhonda Cheek called for clear backpacks and metal detectors as possible solutions to mitigate school violence.

In a letter to parents, Winston said the school district is facing a crisis. "We are facing a crisis of student aggression and violence within our community and our schools," Winston wrote. "Guns do not belong in schools or in the hands of children."

He cited the recent school shooting in Michigan as an example, saying the incident "hit close to home."

He announced in the letter that a short-term solution is buying clear backpacks, which will arrive by February to CMS high school students. Supply chain shortages forced the wait.

Patch obtained the purchase order for clear backpacks this week, showing $441,791 was spent on 46,000 clear backpacks from Office Depot. That number includes $29,864 in taxes. According to the purchase order, the clear backpacks cost $8.90 each.

Winston wrote that they are also in the process of investigating metal detectors or wand metal detectors, their costs and efficacy. "There is more work to do," wrote Winston.

Students say they are concerned about violence, but are concerned that clear backpacks are short-sighted.

"It’s just as easy to store a weapon in your waistband as it is to put it in a backpack, so logically it’s not smart," said Carly Coupal, a junior at a local high school. She is also concerned about privacy. "What if a girl is bringing pads or tampons to school and she doesn’t want them to be seen?" she asked.

Lake Norman area parents echoed the concern over balancing safety and privacy.

"I think this is CMS putting a bandaid on a huge wound," said Huntersville parent Carrie Bachofner.

Others believe the root of the issue of violence starts at home.

"How about adults keeping their guns locked up or they shouldn’t have them?" asked Cornelius parent Deanna Pelucio.

Clear backpacks are not readily available in local stores, according to a perusal of local retailer websites like Walmart and Target. Replacing them if they are damaged could also be challenging while supply chain issues continue.

Davidson parent Joy Corbitt says she is willing to support the short-term safety measure. "I'm not sure if clear backpacks are the answer. However, as a parent I am willing to support any and every effort made by CMS to keep my child safe," Corbitt told Patch.

Winston also stated that they have doubled the amount of random safety checks in schools and are working to create a system that lets students report concerns anonymously. They are also working with local and state law enforcement to brainstorm ways to reduce violence in schools.

Any solution will incorporate parents, and parents like Huntersville's Elain Moske say parents need to be doing more, especially after the school shooting in Michigan.

"Parents need to start checking their child’s backpack, jacket, and social media. You brought these beautiful babies into the world….accept the responsibility," said Moske.