Back-to-school safety measures take effect across Virginia on the first day of school

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — As the new school year begins, several local school districts are implementing new safety measures to enhance student security.

Monday, Aug. 19 marks the first day of school for many students in Central Virginia, and a series of changes are now in place. At some schools, students are returning to class with clear backpacks, a part of a broader initiative to boost security in schools. This new policy is one among several changes being introduced across the region.

In Richmond, Hopewell and Petersburg, students are required to use clear backpacks . Similarly, Hanover County is enforcing a clear bag policy for attendees at high school football games in fall and high school basketball games in winter. This measure aims to ensure the safety of spectators at these events.

In Henrico County, a new system has been put into place requiring students to wear encrypted ID cards . These IDs must be scanned for various activities, including boarding the bus, purchasing lunch, checking out library books and accessing specific areas within the school.

Additionally, Henrico students will begin their school day by walking through metal detectors, a protocol also adopted for middle and high school students in Richmond.

Chesterfield County Public Schools have expanded their camera system to further enhance campus security.

During a press conference today, Richmond school leaders emphasized their commitment to safety and high standards for the upcoming year.

“This is going to be a great year. And as we continue to raise the bar, we’ll continue to push for the things that we need,” said Shavonda Dixon, a member of the Richmond School Board.

In all these districts, a school resource officer will be on site to support and ensure a secure learning environment for students.

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