WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — As students and families usher in 2024, administrators at Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools (WJCC Schools) are introducing a new policy for high school sporting events.
Bags of any size or kind, including backpacks, totes and camera bags, aren’t allowed anymore at games or meets.
Administrators said this was not born due to a specific threat or incident, instead, they called it a "proactive" measure to maintain safety.
Warhill High grad Comfort Akpan told 13News Now school officials already have existing safety measures in place.
"They already [looked] through your bag," said Akpan. "So, they keep it pretty well. I don't really know why they would add this bag policy."
Off-camera, a local parent said she’s completely OK with the new no-bag policy.
Longtime resident Robert thinks clear bags, like at pro games, should be an option.
"I think there should be some amendments," explained Robert. "People want to bring some stuff with them to the football games. They should be able to put it in a bag and carry it with them, especially the clear bags. If they could carry some sandwich with them or whatever they eat, water."
WJCC Schools Strategic Communications Officer Kara Wall issued the following statement in response to community requests for clear bags:
We appreciate parents’ understanding of our goal: to ensure the safety of our community. In consideration of moving to a clear bag or no bag policy, we believe that clear bags may offer a false sense of security.
As noted, exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis for medical/personal care needs.
"You have young families, you take kids to the events, you take snacks, drinks, things to entertain the younger kinds," said Kathryn Novak, who lives a county away, but she thinks banning bags isn’t practical.
"And the other issue if you're going to lock purses in cars, are you drawing ne'er-do-wells and thieves to big parking lots, who are going to break into cars, because they know the purses are in the cars."
In response to that concern, Wall said the following: "While we don’t comment on our specific security patrol process for events, we do deploy methods for interior and exterior security."
Officials will consider exceptions to the no-bag policy on a case-by-case basis, like for medical or personal care reasons.
As for students participating or attending the sporting events immediately after school, division administrators said the students’ respective principals will give them direction as needed.
Everyone will also need to pass through weapons detection gates, similar to large events, venues and amusement parks. It’s something students have seen at WJCC Schools-sponsored events before.
"Anywhere you go you're going to have one, even at basketball games," Akpan added.
Moving forward, administrators also said they plan to implement the new safety measures for events outside of athletics.