The City of Batavia, the Batavia City School District, and the Batavia Police Department are united in our commitment to maintaining safe, positive, and welcoming environments at community and school events.
Friday night’s Homecoming football game brought out incredible support for our Blue Devils, with families, alumni, and community members filling VanDetta Stadium in a true celebration of school spirit. Unfortunately, an incident that occurred after the game concluded overshadowed what had otherwise been a wonderful night.
As community leaders, we want to be clear: disruptive or unsafe behavior has no place in our community, at our events, and will not be tolerated. Students and adults alike are expected to model respect, sportsmanship, and appropriate conduct at all times.
BCSD Superintendent Jason Smith said, “Our community deserves events that are safe, well-organized, and full of school spirit. We are committed to upholding these standards and appreciate the cooperation of our families and the Batavia community.”
To support this, new expectations are being reinforced:
- All students in 8th grade and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times during the game, including while seated in the stands.
- Students will not be permitted to congregate in groups around the stadium during events and will be expected to be seated (except when buying concessions or using the restrooms).
- Access to the practice field will be closed until further notice.
- Should spectators leave the game, they will not be allowed back in.
- Any student or adult who fails to meet behavior expectations will be asked to leave and may be restricted from future events.
These steps are part of a broader commitment. As City Manager Rachael Tabelski stated, “Events like Homecoming showcase what makes Batavia a special place to live. We will continue working together to ensure they remain safe, welcoming, and enjoyable for everyone.”Police Chief Shawn Heubusch added, “Our goal is for every community event to be a positive experience. The Batavia Police Department will continue to be present and supportive, but we rely on students, families, and community members to do their part as well. Criminal conduct will not be tolerated. Anyone caught breaking the law will be arrested and prosecuted.”Together, we can ensure that our events reflect the best of Batavia: community pride, student achievement, and an atmosphere of respect and sportsmanship for all.