Bag checks affect routines of students, staff

Good+morning%0AStudents+are+greeted+in+the+morning+by+metal+detectors+and+security+guards.+The+AASD+police+services+met+with+many+of+the+executives+to+discuss+the+plans+of+security+checks.

Bryana Ayala

Good morning Students are greeted in the morning by metal detectors and security guards. The AASD police services met with many of the executives to discuss the plans of security checks.

Bryana Ayala, Reporter

With the rise of school violence across the country, several security procedures were put in place to ensure the safety of all students and staff. Bag checks became mandatory at the beginning of the school year of 2021-2022 and will continue throughout the year. Some students have brought up the concern that the new security requirements may be interrupting the morning routines of students and staff. 

People around the school have voiced opposing experiences on how bag checks affect their mornings. Some have said they face no issues with the new procedures and still get to their homeroom on time. Others have mentioned how the checks are making them late for their homeroom classes. Many have also voiced their opinions that bag checks are unnecessary as some possessions aren’t always being checked thoroughly.

“I don’t think we should have it now because obviously we have clear backpacks, so I think we can see if there’s going to be a threat coming into the school,” junior Issac Brodie said. “The stuff that isn’t clear, they don’t check. Like the Chromebook cases, I haven’t seen them check those.”

Morning meetings and events began decreasing as security checks became mandatory. After asking head Principal Andrew Neely, the student council was granted permission to hold morning meetings. Students that take part of the club can still go through security checks, but have a pass to head to the blackbox theater afterwards. 

“Everybody’s getting there. We encourage everyone to make sure that they are arriving at the blackbox theater at 7 a.m. so that means you have to come a couple minutes early to get searched. And they [student council] lead the way man, they do a good job with that.” student council adviser Jessica Hogan said.

Whether students agree or disagree with the new policies, multiple people have expressed their sadness with having to make these new adaptations. 

“This is going to be the norm that you’re going to see across the country. You go to airports, you go to stadiums, you go to games, you go to other venues, courthouses. This is what you’re going to be accustomed to unfortunately. It’s sad that we have to live in this world, but we have to be able to adapt to it,” director of the AASD police services Bill Pfeffer said.