After getting new school supplies, school clothes and backpacks ahead of the start of the new school year, some students and parents were surprised to find this week that the use of backpacks were not being allowed.

Public Relations officer for Altus Schools, Valerie Roberts, said their backpack policy hasn’t changed for the elementary schools or Altus Junior High School, but it has for students at Altush High School.

“The newly renovated and remodeled Altus High School now has enough lockers for all students,” Roberts said. “High school students are allowed to carry backpacks to school, but are expected to leave those backpacks in their lockers.”

This is for “safety and security reasons”, Roberts said, “and will allow for more room in the classrooms.”

Students are being required to carry individual books and notebooks to class, and not use their backpacks once they are at school.