Mandatory screening begins at Friday’s home game
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Garces Memorial High School will require every attendee to undergo security screening before entering its football stadium for Friday night’s home game against Wasco High School.
Anyone who refuses the screening will be denied entry, according to the school’s announcement reported Wednesday by BakersfieldNow. The school strongly encourages spectators to use clear bags to help the entry process move more efficiently.
Diaper bags and medically necessary items will be allowed, but school officials said those items may be inspected. Families should plan for additional time at the entrance because the new screening process may slow admission.
Read the source: BakersfieldNow: Garces adds security checks and urges clear bags ↗
The change follows the Independence High shooting
Garces said it adopted the additional precautions in light of the fatal shooting at an Independence High School football game on August 21. Seventeen-year-old Levi Jermaine Carter Brown was killed, and the shooting has intensified demands for stronger security at school athletic events across Bakersfield.
The Garces policy is a concrete response by another local high school as students, parents and community members continue debating metal detectors, screening procedures and the training and number of security personnel at games.
The new measures do not guarantee that every threat can be prevented. They do establish a uniform entry requirement and give security personnel authority to refuse access when an attendee will not cooperate with screening.
Read the source: Garces Memorial: Official campus safety information ↗
What spectators need to know
Gates are scheduled to open at 3:30 p.m. Friday, August 28. The varsity game against Wasco is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.
Garces’ existing safety information says Bakersfield police and Halls Ambulance are contracted for security and medical aid during home football games. The school also says additional security officers are added for athletic events and other activities as needed.
Attendees should check the school’s official channels before leaving for the game in case entry rules or game times change. They should also avoid bringing unnecessary bags or items that could delay inspection.
A wider school-safety conversation
The Independence High shooting has already led hundreds of students to walk out and call for districtwide changes. Organizers plan to bring their concerns to the Kern High School District board on September 8.
Garces is a private Catholic high school and is not governed by the Kern High School District, but its decision shows how the consequences of the shooting are influencing security planning beyond Independence High’s campus.
What’s the Scoop With Broach will update this report if Garces changes the policy or other Bakersfield-area schools announce new football-game screening requirements.
Sources and further reading
BakersfieldNow: Garces adds security checks and urges clear bags ↗