Franklin Regional school officials will add a weapons detection system to entry points at Panther Stadium for events taking place during the 2024-25 school year.

“The only new thing is the addition of the weapons detection system, since we didn’t put that into play at our middle school and high school until after the school year started last year,” said district spokesperson Tina Gillen. “This is the first encounter the public will have with it at the stadium, so we wanted to let them know in advance.”

Outside of the detection system, guidelines for stadium entry are largely the same as in the past:

• Students age 13 and younger will only be permitted entry if accompanied by a parent, guardian or responsible adult.

• Backpacks are not permitted in Panther Stadium.

• A weapons detection system will be used at all entry points.

• There is no smoking or tobacco use in the stadium.

• Students loitering in other areas will be directed back to the bleachers.

• Outside beverages are not permitted.

• There will be no admittance after halftime.

Franklin Regional is the most recent school district to make changes to its entry guidelines for high school football.

Both Woodland Hills and Penn Hills school districts created more restrictive guidelines following an Aug. 30 shooting outside the Woodland Hills home game. Many of the guidelines are similar in their goal of keeping students from congregating in groups outside of the bleachers.

In addition, Jeannette and Greensburg Salem have also updated their guidelines to reflect an expectation that younger students will be supervised at athletic events.

The Panthers will play their first home game Friday night against Greater Latrobe.

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