KING CITY — King City High School has instituted new stadium protocols during Mustang football games in an effort to increase public safety.
In a letter that circulated Oct. 6 to parents, community members and students, KCHS Principal Michael Gray announced that all spectators would be screened by school staff using a metal detector wand as they enter the high school’s War Memorial Stadium, beginning with last Friday’s Mustang homecoming game against Watsonville.
During this process, school staff will also screen bags and purses by having the spectator open them for a quick glance.
“The hands of the inspectors will not touch anything inside, but we may ask for the individual to move things aside if we cannot see,” Gray said.
High school students entering the game must be from KCHS and show their Aeries Portal, while students from the visiting team will be required to show their current student ID. All other children, middle school aged or younger, must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
KCHS students will not be allowed to bring younger siblings to the game, Gray said.
In addition, King City Police Department will be staffing each game with extra officers to further enhance the public safety efforts.
Anyone engaging in violence or disruptive behavior will be removed from the stadium and “could be banned from all future games,” according to Gray.
“KCHS has discussed these protocols with the King City Police Department and both entities agree that these protocols are in the best interest of public safety,” he said.
The new safety measures came about due to “events taking place around local area high school football games,” Gray said, though he did not elaborate on the specific events.
“Thank you for your kind adherence to this policy and for keeping our school events safe,” his letter concluded.
