HERNANDO (AP) — Lockers are quickly becoming a thing of the past in DeSoto County schools, and at one school, even backpacks are off limits.

Only two of the county’s eight public high schools — DeSoto Central and Center Hill — offer lockers to all students.

Additionally, students at Hernando High School are not allowed to carry backpacks.

The reason: Safety.

‘‘Safety is our No. 1 priority,’’ HHS Principal Freddie Joseph said about the backpack ban that took effect at his school this month.

Joseph said that though he could not pinpoint any specific safety issues relating to backpacks in the past, the potential is there.

‘‘Backpacks provide the opportunity for students to bring something to school they don’t need to bring,’’ he said.

Backpacks also are not necessary at HHS, according to Joseph.

He said students have access to books in each classroom and are issued a set to keep at home, so no transporting between the two locations is required.

The same is true at other high schools in the county where lockers are not available for student use.

‘‘There is no reason a child should have to worry about carrying books,’’ Lewisburg High School principal Jim Brady said. in support of no lockers at his school. ‘‘Very little has to be carried at all.’’

LHS parent Tina Davison said her son’s backpack, however, is always full.

‘‘I weighed my child’s backpack including his binders that did not fit inside and his sweatshirt that he wears to class to avoid being cold, and the weight was over 30 pounds,’’ she said, noting that her ninth-grader totes books to school because he is a member of a divided household.

Davison said she was told locker use is not allowed, in part, due to problems with drugs being stored inside during previous school years.

‘‘That’s not fair though,’’ she said. ‘‘They are punishing all students for a select few. I am very disappointed in the school and do not think that they thought out the possibility of lawsuits that the school system will have to endure due to injuries to our children.’’

Davison referred to research connecting back injuries in children to overloaded backpacks, as well as cited health concerns about students carrying items into restrooms.

At HHS, Joseph said the majority of students are only required to carry one binder — which can contain pockets for pencils and other school supplies — for all their classes.

Students with sports or band equipment, for example, have access to storage in the areas designated for their respective extracurricular activity, while other students with special circumstances or school-required materials that can’t be carried during the day are able to use lockers located in non-hallway areas.

‘‘There’s no need for a big backpack,’’ Joseph said, noting that students can use a small bag or purse for supplies.

He said students seem to agree as he has heard few grumbles about the locker and backpack policies.

‘‘Females and males are doing very well with the procedures,’’ Joseph said.

In fact, student tardiness is down from last year at HHS and traffic in hallways has improved, he said.

‘‘This has been a very positive change for us,’’ Joseph said.

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Information from: DeSoto Times-Tribune, http://www.desototimes.com