The Altoona Area School District will enforce a clear backpack policy for secondary students this fall.

The policy, which includes not only backpacks, but book and athletic bags, was announced in a July 6 email to parents with students enrolled in district schools.

As one of the changes made to the student code of conduct, the policy was unanimously approved at the board’s June 21 meeting and will impact students in grades 6-12.

Paula Foreman, the district’s community relations director, said the policy was being implemented because “our community is changing.”

The Mirror reached out to other area school districts but only received a response from Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School Principal Maureen Letcher, who said her district will not have a similar policy this school year.

In May, the Altoona Area School District was made aware of a social media post in which an individual appeared to threaten to bring a weapon to school. The board’s vote to approve the policy came less than a month after that incident, although Foreman declined to say whether the incident led to the new rule.

“We’re seeing younger kids with more access to weapons,” Foreman said. “We have to adjust our security measures to have an environment conducive to learning.”

Clear bag policies are common at sporting events and concerts, and are becoming more normalized, Foreman said, likening the district’s policy to Beaver Stadium’s bag policy.

The district will sell the required backpacks, costing between $15 and $17, and will assist families with obtaining them if they cannot afford them.

Foreman said the community’s reaction is a mix of people who are “really understanding” and those who are against the policy.

Board Vice President Frank Meloy said some board members have heard of privacy concerns from the public, but he said the policy is necessary.

“Everyone has a concern, but it’s really about safety for our kids,” Meloy said.

In the email to parents, the district provided a list of online retailers that sell the clear bags, but at least one local retailer is hoping to stock the items for area families.

Billie Bickel, a manager at the Walmart on Plank Road, said the store’s employees are aware of the school district’s policy and are working to get clear backpacks in stock.

“We don’t have any yet, but we’re working with the supplier to get them before the school year starts,” she said.

An employee at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Altoona said the company sells clear backpacks online for $20, but that the store is currently out of stock. The employee declined to comment further.

Boscov’s has sold clear backpacks in the past, an employee said, but the store doesn’t have any at this time.

In an effort to ensure student safety, the Altoona Area School District also uses metal detectors at the junior high and high school. The devices are inside the buildings’ main entrance but are portable and can be placed randomly at other entrances, Foreman said.

The district has used metal detectors at the high school for “some time now,” Foreman said.

The clear backpack policy is “one more layer we’re putting in place to ensure security,” Foreman said.

Mirror Staff Writer Andrew Mollenauer is at 814-946-7428.