PULASKI COUNTY, Ga. — It's a new policy in Pulaski County Schools, but not to others in Central Georgia.
Starting this year, Pulaski County School District requires students to carry clear backpacks at all its schools.
Michelle Phillips has a daughter in 12th grade. She said it provides a sense of security for her to know the school is focused on safety.
"I think it's a good idea because with the violence in schools,” Phillips said. “You really got to be careful and just be able to see what they have."
Superintendent Debra Puckett said the county started the clear backpack policy a little later than other districts because they needed time to evaluate safety plans in their new building.
The county also purchased portable metal detectors with federal safety grants. Puckett said the goal is to keep violent situations out of their schools.
"They appear to be getting closer and closer to home so in an effort to be proactive, we wanted to go ahead and implement protocols to help strengthen our safety and our security," she said.
Director of Operations David Daniell said violent situations in other counties influenced their decision.
"A lot of the major instances that you've seen have come in small communities,” Daniell said. “We're a small community and we just want to make sure our kids are safe and staff as far as that goes."
School resource officer Danielle Rogers said so far, the clear bag policy is going well.
"We have learned that being proactive works a whole lot better than trying to catch up and be reactive.”
Several groups donated almost 1,000 clear backpacks to the district before the start of the new school year. Mesh backpacks are not allowed. Puckett says the district will provide clear backpacks to any student who still needs one.