RICHMOND, Ind. (AP) — An eastern Indiana school superintendent has announced a ban prohibiting students from carrying backpacks to classes.

Richmond Community Schools Superintendent Todd Terrill tells the Palladium-Item there were no incidents that led to the policy change. He said it was simply made to improve safety. The policy goes into effect Monday. He says students at the city’s two intermediate schools already weren’t allowed to bring backpacks to class, so the policy affects only the high school.

Students are allowed to bring backpacks to school, but they must be stored in student lockers. Terrill says purses that are not bigger than the size of a textbook will still be permitted in class.