Under a new policy approved by Jeannette school superintendents this month, elementary school students attending sporting events at Mackey Stadium must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Superintendent Matt Jones said the policy applies to any events held at Mackey Stadium but is primarily aimed at high school football games.
Students in kindergarten through sixth grade will be denied entry to the stadium unless they are accompanied by a responsible adult, which Jones said officials prefer would be family members.
“I just felt it was time for a change,” he said.
He said the move was to ensure the safety of young students: In the event of an emergency, unsupervised children could go missing and authorities would not have contact details.
The stadium is surrounded by residential areas, “so it's a situation where there's a lot of student traffic,” Jones said, and officials don't want young children walking around alone in the dark. The Jayhawks play at home against the Apollo Ridge Vikings on Friday.
Greensburg-Salem officials sent a letter to parents last week asking them to supervise elementary and middle school students during home sporting events at Offutt Field.
“We are pleased that so many young people support our Golden Lion programs, but we ask that you cooperate with coaches to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience,” the letter said.
Elementary school students must remain in the bleachers with a parent or guardian for the entire game. There are designated bleacher areas for middle and high school students, and both age groups must remain in the bleachers during the game. The Golden Lions host the Ligonier Valley Rams on Friday.
Renatta Signorini is a Triblive reporter covering breaking news, crime, trials and Janet. She has worked at Triblive since 2005. She can be reached at rsignorini@triblive.com.