MOUNT STERLING, Ky. — A school district in central Kentucky has banned backpacks at two schools. The decision was made in Montgomery County after a middle school student brought a loaded gun to school.

What You Need To Know

  • Montgomery County Schools is implementing a new safety measure around backpacks for two of its schools

  • The district has banned backpacks for all students at McNabb Middle School and Montgomery High School

  • Montgomery County Schools has launched a new tip line for students to report potential dangers anonymously

  • The ban comes after a middle school student brought a loaded handgun into one of their schools

Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Matthew Thompson says the last two months have been some of the most chilling he’s experienced in his tenure.

“Across the country, September and even in the beginning of October, it has been the worst in my entire career in terms of the sheer quantity of threats and rumors of threats that school districts are having to deal with,” Thompson said. 

For almost two weeks, Thompson says a middle school student brought a loaded handgun into one of their schools.

Thompson says they were made aware after the school day and after investigating the situation, prompting them to act quickly. 

“Perhaps the most concerning part of what we dealt with here was the number of students who had either known about it or had heard about it, but for one reason or another, did not tell any adult until much, much, much later,” he said. 

After that incident, the district banned backpacks for students in grades 6 through 12 at Montgomery County High School and McNabb Middle School. Right now, only small purses, fanny packs and casual bags that can fit a standard notebook are allowed with special rules for extracurricular equipment and course-required materials.

Thompson says it’s part of a bigger safety plan with a longer-term goal. The short-term plan includes the backpack ban, a larger security presence on campus and community involvement. 

“This provided them the opportunity to see that something was being done. I don’t think that anybody loved it. You know, it requires a whole lot of extra work on everybody’s part, including the school and the families, and we understand that,” Thompson said. 

While they continue to work on a long-term plan, Thompson says the most important step is to maintain clear communication.

“If you see or hear something that makes you feel unsafe, appropriately say something about it,” Thompson added. 

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