Page 26 - School Planning & Management, September 2017

FACILITIES REMOVING BARRIERS
span of time as codes, ordinances and dis- trict requirements change, school districts introduce additional fencing and barriers, often without removing or upgrading the original fencing. Other groups may also become involved with the addition of even more fencing in response to specific needs such as PTSA school improvement projects. Ultimately, an older school campus can be- come cluttered with many different types of barriers that may or may not be serving the original purpose. It may be time to as- sess current requirements against existing conditions and develop a comprehensive fencing management plan.
There are a variety of circumstances that necessitate barriers on school grounds. Security and safety for school children are always at the top of the priority list. After
the tragic events at Columbine and Sandy Hook, attempts to control campus acces- sibility focused a great deal of attention
on fencing and other types of barriers. However, simply adding more fencing may not produce the desired effect. With the ex- ception of certain urban environments, it is unrealistic to fully restrict daytime access to schools by installing perimeter fencing. To do so requires a significant investment in materials and maintenance, not to men- tion dealing with open access for buses, parents, staff and invited guests. Eliminat- ing access to the school population by use of fencing is in most instances problematic and comes with significant costs.
Securing the campus during the off- hours to prevent theft or vandalism is another matter. Steve Shelton, president
of Fence Builders in Winston-Salem, N.C., has provided fencing services to school districts for over 40 years. Shelton claims, “most people breaking into school property do not climb over security fences, they cut a hole and walk right through.” There is a delicate balance between providing safe and secure school facilities and allow-
ing schools to look like prisons. It is clear that fencing and barriers are necessary on school campuses, however; district leaders can make clear choices regarding the type of fence systems used and the message they send. Chain link fencing should be installed with a top rail and the upper edge of the fabric should always terminate in the closed “knuckle” style rather than the sharp pointed “twist” style. Avoid the three strand barb wire arms if at all possible and
Fence management. There are a variety of reasons why it may be necessary to place fenc- ing on school grounds. But as time goes by, these structures may become obsolete, begin to deteriorate, or create a hazardous condition. Failing to maintain them or remove them when they are no longer necessary may send an unat- tractive message to the community regarding the condition of their schools.
26 SCHOOL PLANNING & MANAGEMENT / SEPTEMBER 2017
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