Dallas, TX – This week, Dallas-area school districts have faced increased police presence and made adjustments to high school athletic events due to recent threats of violence. Schools within the Dallas Independent School District (DISD) have emphasized the importance of safety as they navigate this unsettling situation.
According to officials, most of the threats received were found to be either fake or unconfirmed. However, the increased concern surrounding safety has led to several changes in this week’s football schedules. The tragic shooting death of Kimball Junior Varsity player David Washington just last Friday heightened these concerns. Washington was shot at a Love’s gas station near Kincaide Stadium, shortly before the South Oak Cliff game against Duncanville.
In response, DISD announced a series of changes, including moving Kimball’s freshman football game set for Wednesday to Midland. Additionally, the Spruce Junior Varsity team played at Wilmer-Hutchins on the same day. The varsity game between Kimball and Midlothian has been shifted from Sprague Stadium to Midlothian ISD Stadium as well. Robyn Harris, deputy chief of communication services for DISD, stated, “All of the games for this week that have the adjustments in venues or times, it is really centered around the overall safety.”
Dallas ISD has not considered canceling any athletic events, but has taken each threat very seriously. On Saturday, the Madison vs. Lincoln varsity game has also been rescheduled from a nighttime event at Kincaide Stadium to a morning start at Forester Field.
In light of these changes, Duncanville ISD announced that moving forward, all students attending Duncanville athletic events will need to have a current student ID and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. This new policy aims to enhance safety measures at their events.
Looking ahead, DISD also notified fans of two significant game venue changes scheduled for Friday, September 20. The match between Spruce and South Oak Cliff will now be played at Wilmer-Hutchins, while Wilmer-Hutchins will now host Carter at Kincaide Stadium. Harris reassured that these alterations are “completely unrelated to anything happening this week.”
As the situation evolves across North Texas, officials are working diligently with law enforcement to ensure the safety and well-being of students and fans alike. With heightened vigilance and new protocols in place, school districts aim to provide secure environments for student athletes to compete.
