The guideline takes effect immediately and will remain in place for the 2026-27 school year. It applies at Lumpkins Stadium, WISD athletic fields, secondary gymnasiums, the Performing Arts Center and the Fine Arts Center. It does not apply to students during the regular school day. Spectators may carry a clear bag measuring up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, a clear one-gallon freezer bag or a small clutch measuring up to 4.5 by 6.5 inches. The clutch does not have to be transparent, giving visitors limited space for private items such as wallets, medication or hygiene products. There is a practical argument for the policy. Clear bags are easier to inspect, which can reduce time spent opening purses and searching through belongings. Some security experts say they can improve line efficiency and discourage lower-level contraband, but warn that no single security measure should be treated as a complete solution. The security benefits beyond faster inspections are less clear. A transparent bag does not show what someone may be carrying in clothing or otherwise concealing. Some school safety experts have described clear-bag requirements as “security theater” because prohibited items can still be hidden between books, inside clothing or on a person’s body. Clear bag policies also come with privacy concerns. Even with a small clutch permitted, visitors carrying more than a few personal items may have to display their belongings to staff and everyone standing nearby. Another concern is where the policy could lead. WISD currently limits the guideline to spectators at after-school events, but some school districts have expanded similar requirements to students’ everyday backpacks. WISD has not announced such a plan, but families may reasonably want assurances that the current policy will not quietly grow beyond its stated purpose without public discussion. WISD says its goal is to create a safer and more efficient event experience. Faster entry is a reasonable expectation. Whether making most bags transparent provides a meaningful additional layer of protection against real threats is much harder to demonstrate.