Big Sky’s principals are expressing their growing concern over a lack of manpower at district events held at the multi-sport stadium complex, especially high school football games.
The shortage, they say, is creating potential safety risks for spectators, specifically unsupervised children.
Big Sky High School’s head principal, Jennifer Courtney, has been “advocating for months” to get more staff presence at games.
She hopes to see more MCPS employees, such as middle school teachers, involved at events due to their connections with younger kids from the area who often attend.
“Having people who already have relationships with the kids can make a big difference in keeping things under control,” Courtney said during a recent press briefing with the Big Sky Sun Journal.
Sabrina Beed, Big Sky’s assistant principal further spoke on the situation.
“We don’t know the middle school and elementary kids,” Beed said. “We don’t have the capacity to keep an eye on everyone.”
During this same press briefing, reporters questioned administrators about an arrest that occurred after the Big Sky vs. Sentinel varsity football game on October 10.
Since this incident occurred after an event run by Sentinel High School, Big Sky administrators didn’t have many answers, but according to Big Sky School Resource Officer Christian Cameron, a male suspect was arrested for disorderly conduct, possession of a concealed firearm while under the influence, and possession of a firearm in a school building.
“A verbal argument was taking place between the suspect and a female suspect,” Cameron said. “An off-duty officer intervened in that, and then through the course of that detention, the firearm was discovered.”
Ultimately, Beed and Courtney agree that more staff presence is essential to prevent similar situations in the future and to ensure a “safer environment” and welcoming facility for students and the community alike.
Beed mentioned several solutions administrators were open to, including improving the lighting in the stadium. Specifically “by the back fence towards the north side” where Beed encountered elementary and middle school students “playing around over by the water…unsupervised.” during the Sentinel vs Big Sky varsity football game on October 10.
She also mentioned that Sentinel’s SRO “worked a lot with the middle school kids” prior to his work at Sentinel. Having him there, and other staff with these connections, more often may help with safety concerns, Beed said.
