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Board reviews tailgating policy; superintendent says goal is to secure certified law enforcement on site
Summary
Board members reviewed proposed tailgating policies for East and West Marion, and the superintendent said the district's goal is to have certified law‑enforcement officers on site for events, with off‑duty officers or trained security as alternatives depending on crowd size.
Board members discussed proposed tailgating policies for East and West Marion campuses and sought clarification on required security staffing.
A board member asked whether the policy's reference to "1 law enforcement officer" meant a certified law enforcement officer and how many officers would be expected per crowd size. Superintendent Foster said, "the goal is to have a police officer. I've been reaching out to some of our law enforcement, those that are off duty, wanna come and work, make extra money. That is the goal. Ultimately, it's gonna depend on the numbers we can get." He added that if officers are unavailable the district would contract "2 to 3 security people that are trained in security" or hire security companies depending on crowd size.
Foster also confirmed the district planned that "at the end of the day, it will be a certified person... either... Marion County deputy, Columbia police officer." He said payment for paid officers would come from fundraising: "all expenses will come out of the fundraising." The board member who raised the question thanked administration for addressing the potential problem in advance.
Board members approved the two pulled consent items related to the tailgating policy by voice vote, with the motion recorded as carrying 5 to 0.
The discussion distinguished policy intent (to have a certified law enforcement presence) from implementation details (number of officers, exact staffing ratios), which the superintendent said would depend on crowd size and availability of off‑duty officers.
