Have you ever been carrying your heavy backpack around all day and wonder why JHop does not allow student to utilize the dozens of lockers on campus? Perfect solution, right?

Think twice.

JHop students today are managing the weight demands of their books, laptops, lunches and more in their backpacks. Lockers could resolve that problem, but their use was discontinued in 2008 in all Pinellas County schools.

This begs the question: Are JHop lockers gone for good?

JHop Principal Brittnee Scott said it’s a possibility that lockers could make comeback, but there are a lot of restrictions that would have to be put in place for it to be safe.

She acknowledged that lockers would make it easier for students to handle their belongings.

“It can be a lot when you are carrying your laptop and all of your books,” she said.

Locker use was rescinded in all of Pinellas County schools. ESE teacher James Shumilak remembers when lockers were used, students abused the privilege.

“Students would break many rules and pass notes through the vents that can either be a love letter or sometimes a nasty gram,” Shumilak said. “Kids would stash things that they didn’t want to get caught with and put them in a random locker.”

Students used the time going to the locker as an excuse for being tardy to their next class, he said.

Other problems included students finding out the combination and stealing items. Or students bringing illegal items to school and forcing and threatening other people to put them in other students’ lockers.

“[Students] don’t have time in between classes and to avoid contraband [illegal items],” campus monitor William Chirrod said of the locker ban.

Many students were upset after locker access was removed. They became used to it over time, Shumilak said.

“Students were fine with it, especially after I explained to my classes that keeping their belongings with them in my room was safer than a locker,” he said.

Both Shumilak and Chirrod do not think that lockers will ever come back.

“I’d be fine if we didn’t get them back,” Shumilak said.

Student say they want the lockers back.

Sixth-grader Harlow Coakley said that they do not have enough space in their bag to keep all their school supplies.

“I always have to leave some things home that I might need,” she said.

Ella Domeier, sixth grader, said that she hopes JHop students will get lockers back one day to prevent an overstuffed backpack.

“It’s a lot to carry and to keep track of,” she said.