We, the undersigned students, parents, and members of the school community, respectfully ask the Watertown City School District to reconsider its policy restricting students from carrying backpacks with them between classes. Students are expected to carry Chromebooks, textbooks, binders, notebooks, folders, supplies, athletic equipment, and other necessary materials throughout the school day, yet many are required to repeatedly return these items to lockers that are small, crowded, and not always conveniently located near their next classroom. With limited passing time and increasingly busy, congested hallways, students can lose valuable instructional time traveling to their lockers, waiting for access, switching materials, and then rushing to their next class. Allowing students to carry backpacks would provide a practical solution while helping students stay organized, prepared, and on time.

Backpacks would reduce unnecessary traffic in hallways and around locker areas, decrease the number of students rushing between classes, and allow students to move directly from one classroom to the next. They would also reduce the risk of students dropping, losing, or damaging Chromebooks, books, and other school materials while attempting to carry multiple loose items at once. Having their required materials with them would allow students to be better prepared when class begins, rather than arriving late or without something they need because they did not have enough time to visit their locker. Backpacks provide students with one organized place to safely transport the materials they need throughout the school day.

We also ask the district to provide clarification regarding the security concerns surrounding backpacks. Students already pass through metal detectors when entering the building, which raises a reasonable question as to what additional security hazard is created by allowing students to carry backpacks from one classroom to another after they have entered the building and passed through the existing security measures. We fully understand and support the importance of maintaining a safe and secure school environment; however, we believe students and parents deserve to understand the specific safety concerns that make carrying a backpack between classes unacceptable, particularly when students are already subject to security screening at the entrance.

We understand that the school has legitimate responsibilities regarding safety, security, hallway congestion, and classroom space. We are not asking the district to disregard those responsibilities. We are asking the district to reconsider whether the current locker requirement is the most practical solution for students and whether reasonable alternatives could address any concerns while allowing students to carry their belongings.

Students should not have to choose between being prepared for class and making it to their next classroom on time. Allowing backpacks would give students more time to learn, reduce unnecessary hallway congestion, decrease rushing around lockers, protect valuable school-issued materials, improve organization, and help students arrive at class prepared and on time. We respectfully ask the Watertown City School District to listen to the concerns of students and parents, explain the specific security concerns surrounding backpacks, and seriously consider allowing students to carry backpacks between classes.