McKenzie Schools Tighten Spectator Code of Conduct

BMcKENZIE (November 4) — During Tuesday night’s school board meeting in the McKenzie High School Library, the McKenzie Special School District (MSSD) Board of Education approved updates to the district’s Spectator Code of Conduct.

The Spectator Code of Conduct details actions that would cause an individual to be kicked out of a school-sponsored athletic event, and the additional punishments they would be subject to by MSSD.

Before going over the changes, Director of Schools Dr. Justin Barden said, “We’ve had just a couple of situations this year that we felt precipitated us changing some of the language in our Spectator Code of Conduct.”

These changes include adding more types of actions that would cause a spectator to be kicked out and specifying punishments specific to each offense.

Actions deserving of ejection include using foul or obscene gestures or language directed at players, coaches, game officials, game administrators, and/or other spectators (before, during or after the contest); disrupting the contest in any manner (coming onto the floor/court, throwing objects, etc.); using alcohol or smoking/vaping while attending the contest; or exhibiting unsportsmanlike conduct that is not reflective of appropriate behavior toward another individual.

Upon first offense, spectators who engage in unruly behavior will be banned from attending all MSSD athletic events (home or away) for a minimum of one week (seven calendar days) and are required to reimburse the school for any fines the school is responsible for paying as a result of their behavior before returning to any school athletic event.

Upon second offense, unruly spectators will be banned from attending all MSSD athletic events (home or away) for a minimum of one month (30 calendar days) and are required to reimburse the school for any fines the school is responsible for paying as a result of their behavior before returning to any school athletic event.

Upon third offense, unruly spectators will be banned from attending all MSSD athletic events (home or away) for a minimum of one year (365 calendar days) and are required to reimburse the school for any fines the school is responsible for paying as a result of their behavior before returning to any school athletic event.

If the school’s game administrator and/or other school district or staff members eject a spectator before the game’s assigned officials request an ejection, and a fine is not imposed on the school, the spectator will still be banned for the designated time period based on their offense.

All spectator suspensions begin the day following the ejection.

Additionally, all punished spectators are asked to meet with the school principal to discuss his or her behavior and review expectations. A spectator’s ban will stay in effect until the spectator meets with the school principal.

The Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association (TSSAA) fines membership schools $250 for any spectator who comes onto the field or floor during an incident or is ejected by the contest’s game officials due to unsportsmanlike conduct.