Following a student's removal, and reports of a possible threat on Tuesday, Niles McKinley High School is moving to make students feel safer. 

In an afternoon release on Wednesday, the school system announced that beginning immediately students at the high school will no longer be permitted to bring book bags into the school. 

"Of course it will be an inconvenience, but at this point I feel okay with that. I'll carry my books around if I have to. If it's for the safety of my classmates and myself," said senior Gabriella Bruno.

"Now, without the book bags, I'm probably going to be carrying loads of stuff with me. But I mean, if that's what we need to do to keep the schools safe, I'm willing to do it," said senior Halli Petillo.

According to the release, beginning Thursday, February 22nd, students will only be permitted to carry "small purses" and lunch boxes. 

The release states: "In light of recent events across the country, it has been brought to the district's attention some students do not feel comfortable while at school. The Niles City School District takes its job of ensuring the safety and well being of its students very seriously.  Not only does the Niles City School District employ a full-time school resource officer, it works very closely with local law enforcement."

On Tuesday a student was removed from the high school after allegedly making an unspecified threat. 

Niles Police Captain John Marshall says the student was removed from the school after a student reported hearing the classmate make a threat.

Captain Marshall would not reveal the gender or age of the suspect, but would only say that it was not an upperclassman.

In addition to charges against the student, Marshall says the school is following its own disciplinary procedures. The district said in the release on Wednesday that the student will be disciplined "to the fullest extent per district discipline procedures".

Marshall said the ban on book bags was prompted by student concerns, "They were frightened someone would bring something into the school to harm them. One of the easiest remedies to that was let's take away the capacity to smuggle in something."

On Wednesday, the district's school resource officer and high school principal spoke to all students at the high school about the repercussions of making threats and joking about threats.  

They also reportedly discussed what procedures the district could put in place to make students feel safe coming to school.

The district said that while police determined there was never a threat to the Niles City School District or its students, the school district does not tolerate such behavior.

According to the district, the book bag ban will remain in effect until further notice. 

The superintendent said high school students will be able to drop off any gear or equipment for after school activities in the school office first thing in the morning. The items will be keep there until after school.