Oak Grove High School is one of three high schools in the country recognized for its leadership in addressing safety and security issues on its campus.
The award was presented during the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) conference this summer in Louisville, Ky. The national center is headquartered on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi.
Other high schools (interscholastic) recognized were St. Mark's School of Texas, a private school in Dallas, and Littleton Public School, Littleton, Colo.
Much larger collegiate and professional venues such as the University of Alabama’s Bryant-Denny Stadium, the American Airlines Center (NHL) in Dallas, Busch Stadium (MLB) in St. Louis and CenturyLink Field (NFL) in Seattle, Wash., were also recognized. This is the first time interscholastic (high schools) have been recognized.
Wayne Folkes, assistant superintendent of education for the Lamar County School District, sits on the NCS4 board.
OGHS served as the country’s first NCS4 pilot site, based on the fact that it was right here in their backyard, according to Folkes.
The center was established in 2006 following the events of 9/11 and has become a recognized academic leader in addressing potential threats and risks to the safety and security at sporting events. The center equips current and future sports managers with the specialized skills and knowledge they need to address real challenges in maintaining secure sports venues. The center works with recognized and respected safety and security experts across the country from professional sports leagues, marathons, high schools, and colleges/universities.
"The Facility of Merit in Safety and Security Award presents professional leagues, NCAA member institutions, high schools, and marathon and endurance organizations an opportunity to honor outstanding organizations that have gone above and beyond in their safety and security operations" said NCS4 Director Dr. Lou Marciani. "These contributions involve enhancing safety and security at their venue beyond what is normally required, and setting an example for other facilities to follow."
Organization representatives have worked with OGHS, visiting the campus and helping evaluate what works and what doesn’t as far as safety issues are concerned.
“We’re lucky that some of the NCS4 members have children who attend our schools,” Folkes said. “We want to stay on the cutting edge, so that extracurricular activities are fun events.”
NCS4 has a Best Practices Guide that is used on the high school level all the way through the collegiate and up to the professional levels.
“These practices help ensure safety and security during a multitude of extracurricular activities, whether a football game, a volleyball match, baseball, basketball or others,” Folkes said. “And we are continually reviewing them.”
He said while schools in California might have to deal with earthquake issues, South Mississippi has to be more prepared for such inclement weather events as lightning and tornadoes. “We also prepare for and have had training in preparation for other emergencies,” he said.
At last year’s NCS4 summit, the Lamar County School District had athletic directors, administrators and resource officers in attendance to learn about the national trends and new information that might be beneficial to the district.
“Many people think that a football game on Friday night just happens,” Folkes said. “But they don’t see all the planning that goes into such an event during the prior week – from athletic directors, ticket takers, who is let on the field, duty assignments for law enforcement officers, getting officials on and off the field, etc., which ensure things go off without a hitch. A lot of hard work goes on behind the scenes before people show up on Friday night.
“It’s our job to take of everyone and keep fans safe. There are actually more fans who attend high school events than in all the pros. That’s hard to believe, but when you think that some high schools have events going on six nights a week versus one day a week for pros. That includes junior high and ninth grade also.”
More than 400 security professionals and 60 vendor exhibits were present at the national conference.
