The rule of one of few new procedures meant to limit any potential distractions until the end of the year.

DESOTO, Texas — A North Texas school district is looking to avoid any end-of-the-year distractions, and they are implementing a few new procedures to help do so.

Last Friday, DeSoto Independent School District officials announced that no students in the 6th grade or higher are allowed to have backpacks for the rest of the school year. The rule goes into effect on Monday, April 24.

Students will be allowed to carry a small, sandwich-bag-sized clutch or a pencil bag to carry anything for personal hygiene products.

“This really is a proactive decision to make sure that we are staying ahead of and abreast of school safety and also making sure that we're creating an environment that allows students to stay academically focused,” said Tiffanie Blackmon-Jones, Chief of Communications for DeSoto ISD.

The backpack rule is one of a few procedures planned by the district in hopes of a smooth end to the school year.

“Our kids who are engaged in extra-curricular activities, whether it's band or dance or theater or athletics, we are asking them to take those bags and materials to those practice or locker room area and drop them off prior to the start of the school day,” Blackmon-Jones explained.

Campuses will be highly monitored by DeSoto ISD security staff and district-level staff members trained in safety and security.

“I think when you look at the activity around school safety, just in general across the country, there is genuine concern around how do we keep schools safe,” Blackmon-Jones said.

The district security staff will be keeping watch inside, outside, and around all campuses. Safety-trained staff members will use video surveillance to monitor any common areas.

If needed, the district will have central and support members come to campuses for extra support and supervision of students.

DeSoto ISD also wants limited hallway traffic during the school day and they are asking parents to pick up their students as soon as possible at the end of each day.

Any parents with questions about the changes are asked to reach out to their child's campus.

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ARLINGTON, Texas (KXAN) — It was quite a ride for the Vandegrift Vipers to their first-ever Texas football state championship game, but it came up just short in a 42-17 loss to DeSoto on Saturday at AT&T Stadium.

Vandegrift head coach Drew Sanders said DeSoto had a great gameplan coming in and they were able to execute it. This is the best season finished the Vipers have ever had, and even though it didn’t end the way they wanted it to, 2022 is a year to be proud of.

“After our first loss, our guys practiced like absolute maniacs,” Sanders said. “When we were 0-1, we had no idea it would end up here.”

DeSoto’s swarming defense gave Vandegrift quarterback Brayden Buchanan all kinds of problems and their explosive offense was on full display.

The Eagles averaged 22.5 yards per pass completion and had two 100-yard receivers to rack up 605 total yards. Quarterback DJ Bailey threw for 293 yards on 13-of-17 passing with three touchdowns. Tre Wisner hauled in six passes for 135 yards and two scores while Johntay Cook II had three catches for 103 yards and a score. Both have verbally committed to play football for the Texas Longhorns next season.

DeSoto sophomore Deondrae Riden rushed for 183 yards on 30 carries with three touchdowns to lead a tremendous Eagles offensive attack. Wisner also pitched in 75 rushing yards.

“We saw their speed on tape, and they have violent good running backs and speed on the edge,” Sanders said. “That’s what happened in the first half, we tried to stop the run and we got caught twice outside. They were as fast as I feared.”

Vandegrift hung with DeSoto for a good portion of the game and led 3-0 early in the second quarter after a Hayden Arnold 36-yard field goal. DeSoto took a 21-10 lead into halftime, however, behind touchdowns from Cook, Wisner and Riden in the second frame.

The Vipers cut into DeSoto’s lead after they scored on the first drive of the second half. Running back Alex Witt broke a 20-yard run for a touchdown after he scampered for 22 yards to set it up. Witt’s touchdown with 9:30 left in the third quarter cut the Eagles’ lead to 21-17. It was all Eagles from there, however.

DeSoto scored three unanswered touchdowns to close it out, two rushing scores from Riden and the back-breaker — a 62-yard catch-and-run from Bailey to Wisner early in the fourth quarter.

For Vandegrift, Witt had a great game with 134 yards on 20 carries with two touchdowns. Defensive back Alex Foster had 26 tackles, 12 of them solo, to the lead Vipers’ defense. Buchanan finished 7-for-19 passing for 84 yards and he was sacked five times.

Both teams finished the season 14-2. Sanders got emotional in the postgame press conference when he was asked what this team meant to him.

“I got about 350 text messages after we beat Katy last week, and just about all of them were from former players and parents,” he said. “That leads me to my feelings about this team. Everyone views themselves as some sort of leader and we didn’t deal with any issues off the field. They’ve been super low maintenance, and the results show that. These guys are proud to wear the Vandegrift name.”

Buchanan, who will play baseball at Baylor next year, said this team “cemented a legacy” at the school.

“We surpassed our previous standard, but it just didn’t go our way tonight,” Buchanan said. “Nothin’ but love for the guy in the locker room. What an amazing season.”

It’s DeSoto’s second state championship in school history.

Final: DeSoto 42, Vandegrift 17

10:37 4Q: TOUCHDOWN DESOTO – There’s the back-breaker for Vandegrift. DJ Bailey zips a pass over the middle for Tre Wisner, and Wisner’s elite speed is on full display for a 62-yard touchdown. Wisner has six catches for 135 yards and two touchdowns in the game. PAT good. Eagles 42, Vipers 17

End 3Q: DeSoto 35, Vandegrift 17. The Eagles put two in the end zone from Riden in the quarter to stretch their lead. Vandegrift punted to end the quarter so the Eagles will have the ball to start the fourth.

0:23 3Q: The Vipers dodge a bullet after a reply review overturns a fumble on the field and rules it an incomplete pass. Wow.

1:22 3Q: TOUCHDOWN DESOTO – The Eagles go 91 yards in eight plays and Riden caps it off with a 7-yard run for his third touchdown of the game. A big play on the drive was a 56-yard pass from Bailey to Cook to get the ball into the Vipers’ red zone. PAT good. Eagles 35, Vipers 17

4:09 3Q: Buchanan hits a quick kick that takes a tremendous roll down to the DeSoto 9-yard line to pin the Eagles deep in their own territory.

6:07 3Q: TOUCHDOWN DESOTO – The Eagles answer Vandegrift with a 6-yard touchdown run from Riden. He has 169 rushing yards on 28 carries so far. PAT good. Eagles 28, Vipers 17

9:30 3Q: TOUCHDOWN VANDEGRIFT – The Vipers get exactly what they needed with their first drive of the second half, Alex Witt runs it in from 20 yards out following a 22-yard run to set it up. Witt now has 124 rushing yards on 14 carries and two touchdowns. PAT good. Eagles 21, Vipers 17

12:00 3Q: Vandegrift will receive the second-half kickoff, and let’s see if the Vipers can sustain a drive and get points to open the half.

Halftime: DeSoto 21, Vandegrift 10. DeSoto has fumbled twice inside the 10-yard line but the Eagles have been able to rack up 319 total yards to Vandegrift’s 133.

3:20 2Q: TOUCHDOWN DESOTO – Riden bullies his way into the end through Vandegrift defenders for a 4-yard touchdown run. PAT good. Eagles 21, Vipers 10

4:32 2Q: Vandegrift doesn’t do much on the ensuing offensive drive following the turnover and they have to punt. DeSoto gets great field position on the Vandegrift 44-yard line to start the drive.

6:41 2Q: DeSoto’s Deondrae Riden Jr. coughs up the ball at the 2-yard line going in and the Vipers fall on it. Huge play by Alex Foster to force the fumble and Oliver Yndo jumps on it.

8:42 2Q: TOUCHDOWN VANDEGRIFT – Witt lines up to take the snap and surges behind the big offensive line for a 1-yard touchdown. A much-needed answer by the Vipers there. PAT good after a false start penalty moved it back five yards. Eagles 14, Vipers 10

8:58 2Q: Vandegrift’s Alex Witt gets the edge and bursts 57 yards down the sideline to set the Vipers up in DeSoto’s red zone.

9:19 2Q: TOUCHDOWN DESOTO – The Eagles turn the fumble recovery into points quickly. Bailey fires a pass out to Tre Wisner, another player committed to the Texas Longhorns, and Wisner turn the play into a 10-yard touchdown. Eagles 14, Vipers 3

9:43 2Q: After an officials review, an incomplete pass by Buchanan is overturned to a fumble and DeSoto takes over on the Vandegrift 17-yard line.

11:05 2Q: TOUCHDOWN DESOTO – The Eagles’ offense is lightning fast and they showed it there. DJ Bailey zips a quick pass to Johntay Cook II, and Cook showcases his speed and agility to turn it into a 42-yard touchdown. PAT good. Eagles 7, Vipers 3

11:56 2Q: FIELD GOAL VANDEGRIFT – Arnold knocks a 36-yard kick through the uprights and Vandegrift draws first blood in the 6A-DII title game. Vipers 3, Eagles 0

End 1Q: Vandegrift 0, DeSoto 0. The Vipers have the ball in field goal range on 4th-and-5 from the DeSoto 19-yard line. Perhaps Vandegrift coach Drew Sanders will send his tremendous kicker Hayden Arnold out to try for the game’s first points.

2:28 1Q: Both defenses are playing well early on and the Vipers force another punty by DeSoto. They’ll start with good field position at their own 40-yard line.

4:13 1Q: Vandegrift moves the ball but the drive fizzles out and Buchanan makes a nice quick kick on 4th-and-3 to send the Eagles back to their own 14-yard line to start the drive.

6:03 1Q: The Vipers’ defense makes a stop and forces a DeSoto punt. They’ll take over on their own 21-yard line to start their second offensive drive of the game.

9:02 1Q: Vandegrift goes three-and-out on its first drive without gaining a yard, but a terrific punt by Hudson Lilie and a penalty on the return pins DeSoto on their own 19-yard line.

10:25 1Q: DeSoto was flying down the field with chunk plays and had it in the red zone, but Jaden Trawick fumbled on his first carry of the game and the Vipers jumped on it. Huge play for the Vipers to avoid going down early after DeSoto’s first drive. Vipers take over on their own 21-yard line.

12:00 1Q: Vandegrift wins the coin toss and will defer its option to the second half, so DeSoto will receive the opening kick.

As a veteran educator (30+ years), I realize that I am nearing the end of my career. However, I am not near the end of my service to Texas children. My service on the school board will be a natural transition that allows me to continue to advocate on behalf of students and adults.

As a new candidate, I hope to collaborate with the entire team of eight in our quest to continue the positive trajectory that DeSoto ISD is on. I intend to strengthen the district’s ability to meet the board goals put in place, while addressing the concerns of the stakeholders.

To date, all of my donations have come in from individual donors. I anticipate endorsements to arrive shortly.

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Yes. My issues of concern include providing avenues for better student outcomes; Ensuring we take care of the teachers in the district; Focusing on safety and security, to include mental health and emotional well-being of the students and staff; Lastly, we need to have more accountability and responsibility within the financial structure of the district.

I have worked in Houston ISD, Bryan ISD, Waller ISD, and DeSoto ISD. I sponsored the organization Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT). I was on the board of Youth Extinguishing Smoking (YES). I was a coach for the little league basketball team, the Waller Hoopers. I participated in the One DeSot Walk. I participated on a community search team for a missing person. And I served on the DeSoto Charter Review Commission.

Important attributes include: Integrity, honesty, transparency, open communication, and accessibility

The public relations role of the district is to communicate a vision that prioritizes goals based on the vision and values of the district, to communicate to the public the progress measures of the goals put in place, to set a tax base and adopt a budget, and to hire, evaluate, and dismiss the superintendent of the district.

I believe it is important to work as a team of eight. One way to achieve this is to have board retreats. Board training also helps to mitigate differences that may arise from members of the board. Additionally, sticking to policy helps to alleviate differences.

Within the most recent year, the district has done a great job on adopting academic goals and hiring a competent superintendent. Prior to that, the board has done poorly in the area of fiduciary responsibilities.

We need to change the culture of the school district. Students’ behavior changes when adult behavior does. We need to instill pride and virtue back into our curriculum. What do you see as the major issue(s) facing your school district? Public education? 1) The teacher shortage; 2) Violence (both external and internal) within our schools; and 3) Financial shortages due to mismanagement.

I am a firm believer in public schools. I believe that we should invest in our public school system rather than send tax dollars to charter and private programs. The exodus cripples the public school system. It also creates opportunities for substandard and even fraudulent education to occur when we “de-regulate” our traditional school systems.

The greatest capital needs are probably the aging infrastructure of some of our district facilities.

I would look to cut frivolous spending. I would also look to cut in areas where we are top heavy.

Changes should be made in the area of more budgeting, especially with the surplus at the state level. Another change could be how schools are funded. Instead of funding based on Average Daily Attendance or ADA, schools should be funded based upon student enrollment.

Simple transparency and over-communication should be the order of the day. Communication should occur frequently via various mediums, and in multiple languages for the benefit of the stakeholders.

I bring over three decades of experience and training in the field of public education, most of which has occurred at the administrative level. I have served on advisory boards of organizations such as the United Way and the Teacher Preparation Program at Prairie View A&M University. I am trained within Lone Star Governance (LSG), the Texas Education Policy Institute (TEPI), and Leadership ISD.

LSU is looking for talented wide receivers in the future. The Tigers just offered a wide receiver that is going to be a high school freshman this fall.

Ethan Feaster is a 6-foot-165-pound wide receiver from DeSoto, Texas, where he plays for DeSoto High School. The Eagles finished the 2022 season 14-2 with a win over Vandegrift in the UIL 6A D2 state championship game.

Feaster currently has no Crystal Ball projections but Texas A&M is a 35% favorite to land him per On3.

Feaster doesn’t have any film yet, and we will have to wait until next season to see any.

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ARLINGTON — Vandegrift will try and win its first state championship in football when it faces DeSoto for the Class 6A Division II title Saturday at 3 p.m. at AT&T Stadium. The Vipers, from the Leander school district, began varsity play in 2010 under current head coach Drew Sanders and qualified for their first state title game with a 38-35 win over Katy last week.

More:Overlook him if you dare: Size no factor when Vandegrift's Coleman has game in his hands

DeSoto, a single-high school district just south of Dallas seeking their second state title, are coached by Bartlett native Claude Mathis, one of the top high school players in Austin-area history and a member of the Texas State athletic hall of honor. The Eagles beat Denton Guyer 47-28 last week and boast a star-studded lineup that includes Texas Longhorn commits Tre Wisner at running back and Johntay Cook II at receiver.

Follow along for live updates from today's game.

More:Photos: Vandegrift battles DeSoto for 6A Region II State Title

Final: DeSoto 42, Vandegrift 17

In its first appearance in a state championship football game, Vandegrift falls to a tough and talented DeSoto squad. Texas recruits Tre Wisner and Johntay Cook helped DeSoto to more than 600 yards of offense and give Claude Mathis, a Bartlett native and former LBJ head coach, his first state title as a head coach.

10:37 4Q: DeSoto 42, Vandegrift 17

Vandegrift is playing some future Longhorns, and the Longhorns are winning. RB Tre Wisner, who splits out wide often, hauls in a 62-yard TD catch. He has 6 catches for 132 yards ad 3 TDs along with 79 yards rushing on five carries. Want some more UT comps? How about Eric Metcalf.

End 3Q: DeSoto 35, Vandegrift 17

Vandegrift just punted the ball back to DeSoto, and things look bleak for the Vipers. DeSoto has 514 yards of offense and has run 19 more plays than the Vipers. Can Vandegrift get a few stops?

1:22 3Q: DeSoto 35, Vandegrift 17

Deondrae Riden Jr. gets number three, and is that too much for Vandegrift to overcome? The sophomore runs in from 5 yards out to give DeSoto what may be an insurmountable lead. Johntay Cook, the Texas pledge, hauled in his third catch on the drive and now has 103 yards receiving. He's a downfield threat who plays a bit like Xavier Worthy, to these eyes.

6:04 3Q: DeSoto 28, Vandegrift 17

Deondrae Riden Jr. answers that Vandegrift TD with his second touchdown of the game, this one from 6 yards out There's a reason the 5-10, 190-pound sophomore has offers from schools such as LSU and Texas A&M; a workhorse with breakaway speed, he has 28 carries for 169 yards.

9:30 3Q: DeSoto 21, Vandegrift 17

Vandegrift gets exactly what it needed on the opening drive of the second half. Alex Witt, who has rushed for 129 yards on 14 carries, rips off a 20-yard TD run to pull the Vipers within four points. Can Vandegrift's defense somehow slow down potent DeSoto?

Halftime: DeSoto 21, Vandegrift 10

Vandegrift has to be satisfied down just 11, considering that DeSoto has moved the ball at will. The Eagles have more than 300 yards of offense, including 73 yards rushing, 66 yards receiving and a TD from Texas RB pledge Tre Wisner and two catches for 48 yards and a TD by Texas WR pledge Johntay Cook. Vandegrift has 133 yards of offense, led by 78 yards rushing and a TD from Alex Witt.

3:20 2Q: DeSoto 21, Vandegrift 10

DeSoto RB Deondrae Riden Jr. makes up for his fumble on the previous possession and bulls in from the 4-yard line. That's an impressive sophomore running back. DeSoto offense is in high-octane mode; running a fast tempo, the Eagles have 270 yards of offense and Vandegrift needs to catch its breath on defense.

6:40 2Q: DeSoto 14, Vandegrift 10

Another fumble by DeSoto inside Vandegrift's 10-yard line, and it's Oliver Yndo of Vandegrift on the recovery at the 2-yard line. The Vipers' defense has two takeaways in the shadow of their own goal line, and that's keeping Vandegrift in the game

8:41 2Q: DeSoto 14, Vandegrift 10

Vandegrift answers, and this game is heating up. Alex Witt takes a snap from the wildcat and plows in from 1 yard out. Witt set up his score with a 57-yard run down the right sideline. Both offenses getting untracked.

9:19 2Q: DeSoto 14, Vandegrift 3

And DeSoto takes advantage of the review! Tre Wisner, another Texas pledge, takes a pass from Darius Bailey 10 yards for the score. Vandegrift fans may not be happy but Texas fans are; the two DeSoto recruits for the Longhorns have combined for 150 yards and two TDs.

9:43 2Q: DeSoto 7, Vandegrift 3

Did Vandegrift QB Brayden Buchanan fumble on a sack, or is that an incomplete pass? The UIL uses booth review instant replays in just the state title games, and replay overrules the call on the field of an incomplete pass. The first turnover by Vandegrift has DeSoto set up deep in Viper territory.

11:03 2Q: DeSoto 7, Vandegrift 3

Johntay Cook! There's the playmaking ability that drew countless offers from colleges across the state - including Texas. The 4-star Longhorns pledge takes a pass out in the flat, makes one move, and flashes his elite speed while racing into the end zone for a 42-yard touchdown catch.

11:56 2Q: Vandegrift 3, DeSoto 0

Hayden Arnold nails a 36-yard field-goal attempt to give the Vipers the lead. The senior has had an all-Centex type of season, and it continues in Arlington.

End 1Q: Vandegrift 0, DeSoto 0

Miles Coleman gets loose for a 31-yard gain to move Vandegrift deep into DeSoto territory, but the drive bogs down at the DeSoto 19. It's fourth down for Vandegrift, and might we see kicker Hayden Arnold come on for a 36-yard field-goal attempt? He's had a brilliant year so far and could produce the first points of the title game.

1Q 2:28: Vandegrift 0, DeSoto 0

DeSoto has 122 yards compared to 24 for Vandegrift, but the Vipers' defense has forced back-to-back punts.. The DeSoto secondary is good; so far, dynamic Vandegrift receiver Miles Coleman has had little space,

1Q 6:02: Vandegrift 0, DeSoto 0,

Both defenses have forced punts, and the Vipers get the ball back for the second time. They went 3-and-out on their first drive; let's see how they adjust to a fast, physical DeSoto defense.

1Q 10:24: Vandegrift 0, DeSoto 0,

An immediate turnover! DeSoto driving inside the 10-yard line, but DE Daemian Wimberley forces a fumble by RB Jaden Trawick, and Isaiah Thompson recovers for the Vipers. Vandegrift forces the game's first turnover.

1Q 12:00: Vandegrift 0, DeSoto 0

Let's kick things off. Vandegrift in road whites with silver and black trim and the silver "V" on the black helmet. DeSoto in home green and gold with a green and silver eagle on the golden helmet. DeSoto will get the ball first, and the Vipers defense will immediately see that explosive DeSoto offense.