A northeast Ohio high school has barred students from carrying metal water bottles, saying the containers pose safety risks and slow down security checks.
Since Sept. 8, Firestone Community Learning Center in Akron — home to roughly 1,000 students in grades 9–12 — has only allowed clear plastic bottles inside the building. The ban applies to popular brands like Stanley, Yeti, Owala, and Hydro Flask.
The change sparked immediate backlash. On the first day of enforcement, more than 20 students protested by clanging their bottles together before class. Others have spoken out on social media and at a school board meeting. Firestone senior Whittman Sullivan presented a petition with about 250 student signatures opposing the ban, arguing that it “creates unnecessary obstacles for students, especially those with health needs.”
Why the Ban?
Akron Public Schools spokesperson Stacey Hodoh said administrators flagged metal bottles as a major safety concern last school year. Their opaque design requires each one to be manually inspected, slowing down the screening process. She also noted that the containers can conceal prohibited items or be misused as weapons.
“These bottles are large, opaque, and capable of hiding contents that could put students at risk,” Hodoh said. “This is a proactive step to maintain school safety.”
Students are still permitted to bring clear water bottles.
Pushback from Families
Students and parents say the ban is impractical. Many prefer stainless steel bottles because they are durable, environmentally friendly, and keep drinks cold throughout the day.
Lisa Shaw, whose daughter is a freshman, said her family owns about 30 reusable bottles but none that are clear plastic. She raised concerns over cost and health. “We switched to stainless steel because I don’t want her drinking from plastic all day,” Shaw said. “And I can’t find a clear bottle that doesn’t leak.”
Sullivan suggested a compromise: allowing metal bottles if they are empty when students arrive, similar to airport security procedures.
Part of a Wider Trend
Firestone is not the only school to adopt this policy. District officials confirmed that Buchtel Community Learning Center, another Akron high school, also bans metal bottles. That decision came after a student struck a teacher and another student with a Stanley cup during a fight last spring, sending the teacher to the hospital. The student was arrested and charged with felonious assault.
Across the country, schools in New Jersey, Alabama, and New York have recently implemented similar restrictions. Will more schools in Ohio adopt these new policies in the future? Find out more with River News.
