Knox County Middle School in Kentucky addressed security concerns at its school by installing a metal detector at its front entrance, and has to ban backpacks as a result.
The school said effective Wednesday, students are no longer allowed to use standard backpacks because they set off the detector.
"With 500 students, we feel we cannot properly search our students in a timely manner without cutting into instructional time with backpacks," the school said.
The school said it needs students to adjust to some new policies in order to ensure the detection process flows smoothly each day.
Students and parents are being told to use lockers instead of bags.
Girls can still bring in small purses and student athletes currently involved in a sport will be allowed to have a sports bag. Plastic and paper lunch carriers will be allowed, as well.
Students are also asked to not to wear steel-toed footwear.
The staff said it will need students to turn off their phones and hand them to staff when they head through the entrance to not set off the detector, and phones will be returned when they pass through.
The school is holding an open house Wednesday afternoon from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. to address and concerns.
The school said the metal detector was donated to them.
"We realize it will be trial and error as we work to provide a safer learning environment. We want to thank Jamie Hubbard for donating the metal detector to help keep our students safe," it said.