There are not always words that can adequately describe the seriousness of the events our community has experienced this past week. We continue to be grateful for the tremendous outpouring of care and support for the students, staff, and families impacted by our bus accident.
Although we are on Fall Break, our commitment to those impacted has not paused. We continue to check in with families and staff and provide opportunities and resources for our students, staff, and families to process, heal, and receive the support they need following this tragic accident.
We also continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement as they investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident. Because this remains an active investigation, we are limited in the additional details we can share at this time.
As many of our students, staff, and families are aware, two high school-aged students were shot following the Warren Central–Lawrence North football game last Friday evening. Since that time, our district and school teams have been working closely with law enforcement as they investigate this serious act of violence and work to identify those responsible. We remain committed to doing everything within our responsibility to support the investigation and the students, families, and school communities impacted by this incident. If you have information related to this incident, please contact Warren Police at 317-258-1363 or Crime Stoppers at 317-262-8477.
As we prepare for our next home football game this Friday, we are taking additional steps to strengthen safety and security before, during, and after the game. These heightened measures will include changes to parking, entry into the stadium, the game-day experience, and post-game dismissal. Some of these procedures will be different from previous home games and will be more restrictive. We ask for your patience, cooperation, and understanding as we put these additional measures in place.
Our goal is straightforward: to provide a safe environment where our students can compete, our families and community can support them, and everyone can enjoy the game. For Friday’s game, the following additional safety measures will be in place:
Pre-Sale Tickets Only – All tickets must be purchased in advance. Online ticket sales will close at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, October 9. Tickets will not be sold at the gate.
High School Student Attendance – Only Warren Central and Carmel high school students will be permitted to attend, and students must present a valid school ID for entry.
No Middle School Students – Middle school students will not be permitted to attend Friday’s game.
Additional Campus Entry Protocols – Additional security procedures will be in place as vehicles and spectators enter campus. Please have your game tickets readily available and be prepared for additional screening and direction from staff.
Increased Security Presence – Additional law enforcement and security personnel will be positioned throughout the stadium, campus, and parking areas before, during, and after the game.
These additional measures are being implemented intentionally in response to last Friday’s incident. We recognize that some may create inconvenience or disappointment, particularly for students and families who would normally attend. At this time, however, we believe these steps are necessary to provide the safest possible environment for our students, staff, families, and guests.
Safety is a shared responsibility. We ask everyone attending Friday’s game to follow the directions of school and district staff, security personnel, and law enforcement and to report any concerning behavior immediately. We appreciate our community’s partnership, patience, and understanding as we work together to provide a safe Friday night experience for our Warriors and our guests.
We also encourage students, staff, and families to report any concerning, threatening, or unsafe behavior. Concerns can be submitted through our anonymous reporting form or by calling 317-532-3049. If you see or hear something that could impact the safety of our schools or community, please say something.
Thank you for continuing to look out for one another and for supporting our students and staff. Even during challenging moments, I am grateful for the care, strength, and pride that define our Warren community. Together, we will continue to take care of one another and move forward as a community.
Dr. Tim Hanson
Superintendent of Schools
For The W!