Local school district banning certain water bottles, binders

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - As we head into the new school year, one district is banning a couple of items that might surprise you: certain water bottles and binders.

When we told parents that Trigg County Schools in Kentucky is only allowing students to bring clear bottles to school starting this year, their first thought was to keep alcohol out of schools.

“Sometimes older kids are more in their feelings and might be drinking outside of school,” one parent said.

As Cadiz Chief of Police Tyler Thomas showed us, water bottles that you can’t see through, like tumblers, can be used to conceal weapons, too. Thomas showed us that a prop gun and a knife can fit inside a water bottle. At districts with metal detectors, Thomas said the water bottle would set the detector off. However, it could be overlooked since water bottles are so common.

Here are instructions on how to watch WSMV4 live on various platforms.

The district is also only allowing open binders, not the ones that zip. Superintendent Rex Booth said zip binders can be used to carry dangerous or distracting items.

“You could have anything from weapons to drugs,” Booth said. “You might see at the younger ages even different toys.”

We reached out to districts in both Kentucky and Middle Tennessee to see what their policies are. Christian County Schools, Wilson County Schools, Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools, Rutherford County Schools and Metro Nashville Public Schools told us that they have no policies prohibiting either item.

Some parents said they are in support of it.

“All of these school shootings, I understand why they are doing it,” one parent said.