Stepped-Up Security At Broward High Football Games

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - There's a new type of play from scrimmage when Broward County high school football fans arrive at games.

"They're going to wand everyone tonight to make sure nobody brings in any weapons or anything of bad nature," explains James Klemke, Monarch High School's Athletic Director.

"We had to take our phones out. We had to empty all our belongings and I even had to take my jacket off," student Eileen Le tells CBS 4 News.

Hats must come off too.

It's all part of new security protocols announced Thursday by Broward County Schools, which will be enforced anytime the home team is playing another Broward County Athletic Association team.

"I think it's an amazing, awesome proactive measure for school safety and security for the football games," says Broward County School Board member Lori Alhadeff.

Alhadeff whose son plays football for Marjory Stoneman Douglas, lost her 14-year-old daughter, Alyssa at the infamous Parkland school shooting back on Valentine's Day 2018.
Prompting some to wonder why security measures like these weren't already put into place.

"It's been what three years since Douglas and finally we have security measures. Before you could just walk in whenever you wanted," says Le.

With the new playbook in place, you also can't return once you've entered the gates, and no one is allowed in after the third quarter.

Parent James Coleman explains his relief, "When I went through the gates there was no doubt in my mind i could come out and enjoy my son while he plays his football game."

The changes in security come after a shooting just last week at the Piper-Fort Lauderdale football game.

A woman was also arrested back on August 26th for allegedly stabbing a man during a fight that broke out after Blanche Ely played McArthur High …

Another reason parents, students and staff are cheering the move, "It makes me as a mother going in to watch my child play football (feel) very safe," says Alhadeff.

The Broward County School Board still needs to take a vote before officially implementing the new security measures.