2 guns found on teen at Muscogee game. School district says new bag policy unrelated
The Muscogee County School District announced immediate changes Tuesday to its bag policy for admission into athletic events.
The abrupt change, which includes banning large bags, came four days after a gun incident at a football game in an MCSD stadium.
When asked why the new policy was implemented now, the school district’s spokeswoman said it wasn’t connect to the gun incident.
“This incident was not related to the bag policy,” MCSD communications director Kimberly Wright told the Ledger-Enquirer in an email.
The gun incident occurred Friday, when a former student was arrested for carrying two loaded handguns in a backpack, police said.
According to the Muscogee County Jail docket, Kenneth Robins was booked into the jail at 11:20 p.m. Aug. 18 on two counts of carrying a weapon on school property. That was the first night of football games in the 2023 season.
Wright referred the Ledger-Enquirer’s questions about the weapon on school property, including the location, to MCSD Police Chief Greg Arp.
In an email to the Ledger-Enquirer, Arp said an MCSD police officer working at the Aug. 18 football game between Spencer and Greenville high schools in Odis Spencer Stadium “noticed a young man walking in the crowd with a rugrat’s jacket and a book bag. The officer observed what appeared to be the outline of a handgun in the book bag and approached the individual.
“During the investigation, the officer found two loaded handguns in the bookbag carried by Kenneth Robins, 17, of Columbus, (a previous student) in the jacket pocket of Mr. Robins. Robins was detained and arrested for possessing a weapon on school grounds.”
Earlier, when asked what prompted this immediate change to the bag poilcy, Wright said, “In a collaborative effort over the summer, the MCSD Police Department and the MCSD Athletics Department joined forces to develop and implement a bag policy to streamline security procedures and to create a more secure and enjoyable experience for guests who attend athletic events.”
MCSD new bag policy for athletic events
Bag size restrictions. “Large bags” no longer are permitted at athletic events. MCSD defines a large bag as more than a 5-by-9-inch, single-compartment clutch.
Permitted bags. “To accommodate essential needs, exceptions will be made for medical bags, diaper bags and small, single-compartment clutches no larger than 5-by-9 inches,” the news release says.
Enhanced security measures. “All bags, regardless of size, will be subject to thorough security inspections to ensure the safety of all attendees,” the news release says.
Asked why this new policy wasn’t implemented when the school year started, Wright said, “They wanted to share it at the first board meeting.”
MCSD’s first board meeting of this school year was Monday night.
Although the news release specifies stadiums, Wright clarified to the Ledger-Enqurier that the new policy “applies to all athletic events.”
The Ledger-Enquirer asked Arp and Wright whether the bag in which the guns were found would have been banned under the new policy. This story will be updated when that answer is received.
MCSD board reaction
The new bag policy wasn’t on the agenda for the board to vote at its monthly meeting Monday night. Superintendent David Lewis, during his closing remarks, read aloud the new policy and said it’s similar to the Columbus Civic Center’s bag policy.
The Ledger-Enquirer asked Wright why the administration didn’t request for the board to vote on the policy changes. This story will be updated when that answer is received.
The L-E also asked in an email to the MCSD board’s nine members for their reaction to the board not being asked to vote on the new bag policy and whether it should have been implemented before the school year started.
Board chairwoman Pat Hugley Green of District 1, Kia Chambers, the board’s lone countywide representative, and Patricia Frey of District 7 have been the only board members to reply.
“Policies are a Board matter, however, procedures are a part of the day to day operations,” Green wrote. “The Superintendent has authority and is expected to add and/or improve procedures that directly impact safety and student achievement. The procedure update for carrying bags in MCSD sporting events is not surprising and I welcome the additional measure of safety for our students, families, alumni and fans. You may know that for many years and nationwide that professional sports to K-12 school public events that venues have some type of clear bag or size bag requirement.”
“Logistically speaking, all ‘policy’ should be voted on by the School Board,” Chambers wrote, “but this is more of a safety procedural change that falls well within the scope of the assignment of the Superintendent. We have hired a capable and well-trained superintendent, and we trust that the intention of this new procedural change was solely to streamline security procedures and minimize risks for all patrons in attendance.”
As for the new policy being implemented after the first week of football games this season, Chambers wrote, “It’s difficult to say whether it should have been done before the school year started without taking into account the many procedural changes that occur at the beginning of any school year.
“However, I do think it’s important for policies/procedures to be communicated clearly with enough time for students and parents/guardians to adjust. We are still at the beginning of the school year, where adjustments will continue to be necessary as we work towards creating a stellar school district.”
Frey wrote, “I applaud that decision to keep all attendees at sporting events as safe as possible. The timing isn’t an issue for me.”
