Fans attending Vicksburg Warren School District athletic events will need a new fashion accessory this year.
At its monthly meeting on Thursday the VWSD Board of Trustees approved a clear bag policy for sporting events beginning in August. The policy was approved by a 5-0 vote.
Under the policy, any bags brought into the stadium must be made of clear plastic and no bigger than 12-by-6 inches. The guidelines are similar to those in place at all college and pro stadiums around the country.
“That’s the trend we’re seeing in other school districts across the state and some of the ones close to our area and that we play against,” VWSD athletics director James Lewis said. “We’re trying to be proactive, and that we have a safe and secure gameday experience for all of our fans and spectators. We’re trying to be ahead of the curve. The main priority is for them to be safe.”
Lewis said the new policy has been in the works for nearly a year. Several other school districts in Mississippi, including in Meridian and Natchez, have already implemented clear bag policies. He talked with officials in those districts and studied what’s worked and didn’t, and then made his recommendations to the VWSD board.
“They said it’s been working well for them and they hadn’t had any issues. And as a result of them implementing the clear bag policy they’ve seen a major reduction in gameday incidents that may have been disruptive to the gameday experiences,” Lewis said.
Lewis added that while several incidents at events during the 2023-24 school year might have shown the need for a clear bag policy, the VWSD plan was not a reaction to them.
When Vicksburg High’s homecoming football game was cut short because of an on-field fight in September 2023, at least two unrelated fights broke out as the stadium was being cleared. Fans ran through the bleachers as they tried to escape the situation and one arrest was made outside the stadium.
In May, a fight in the stands near the end of Vicksburg High’s spring football game once again had panicked fans fleeing as police and security officers went into the stands to break it up.
“Even before those things took place, these conversations were being brought about months and months ago. It’s not a reactive measure,” Lewis said. “Now we have all of the information we need to move forward with it as a collective body.”
The first athletic event that the VWSD will host during the 2024-25 school year is a volleyball game between Warren Central and St. Aloysius on Aug. 8. Vicksburg will play its volleyball home opener against Columbus on Aug. 20.
The Red Carpet Bowl football doubleheader is at Warren Central on Aug. 30, featuring Vicksburg vs. Holmes County Central and Warren Central vs. Clinton.
Lewis said he and the school district’s security officials will spend the next couple of weeks trying to tailor procedures for each venue to make the process run as smoothly as possible. At the same time, he said, the district will begin a public relations campaign to let fans know what they can and cannot bring into games so there is no confusion.
“We’re trying to be as transparent as possible and push out or relay as many graphics as possible. We’ll have a pretty good way of sharing information and people will know what is and is not allowed,” Lewis said. “It’s going to be tailored to every sport to keep everybody safe. We want everybody to be safe whether they’re going to a football game or a tennis match or a swim meet.”
The only bags that will be allowed to be brought into events are one-gallon clear plastic zipper bags; a clear plastic bag with a handle that cannot exceed 12 inches deep, and 12-by-6 inches wide; and a clutch or wallet measuring no bigger than 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches.
Exceptions will be made for medically necessary items, although those bags will be physically inspected.
Diaper bags are also allowed if accompanied by a child.
Among the prohibited bags are backpacks, binocular and camera cases, cinch bags, computer bags, coolers, fanny packs, mesh bags, large tote bags, large purses, and tinted or printed plastic bags.
All bags are subject to physical and visual inspection.
“It’s very similar to any other school district. Once they get to the gate, any bags or purses will be thoroughly searched,” Lewis said. “But with it being a clear bag policy, they already have an idea of what’s inside. It’ll be reviewed at the checkpoint, and once it’s determined that they are safe to proceed they’ll be able to move into the game as freely as possible. Everybody will be checked if they’re bringing in a bag.”
Lewis asked spectators to arrive early and allow extra time to get through security lines, especially early in the season as the policy is being implemented and procedures are refined.
“We’ll get better over time, game by game. Gates always open up an hour early. We would always ask people to get there a little earlier. We don’t anticipate extremely long lines, but it will be a process so I would ask them to be patient with us,” Lewis said. “At the end of the day, understand that this process is put in place to keep them safe and I think that’s more important than anything else.”
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