Schools set policy on fences

The board hopes its new plan for approving fences improves safety and consistency.

By MELANIE AVE, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published October 16, 2002

TAMPA -- Some Hillsborough County schools have 6-foot fences surrounding their entire campus. Some schools have brick and steel fences at their entrance. Others have vinyl fences at the rear of their property.

Such varied approaches has some School Board members concerned.

"We are fencing without thinking about what we're trying to do," said School Board member Candy Olson. "I'm not opposed to all fences. I think we've just used them without thinking."

On Tuesday, the board passed broad new procedures for installing fences around schools. No procedures existed until now.

The new procedures say principals must submit requests to area directors, who have the authority to approve fences.

Safety and security issues are to be considered. But the new procedures go further by encouraging "alternative measures to fencing the entire perimeter of school campuses."

Olson and fellow board member Jack Lamb said the new procedures don't go far enough.

Lamb said he was surprised to hear a fence has been constructed in front of the new Freedom High School in Tampa Palms.

"I have a lot of concerns," he said.

Assistant superintendent Jack Davis agreed that the fencing procedures are not yet complete.

He said a task force has been organized to come up with standards for future fence installations. It will report its findings in January.

Fencing became an issue in August after board members questioned spending district dollars on a decorative wall and fence around the N Dale Mabry entrance to Plant High School, considered by some to be a privileged South Tampa school.

The community has been raising $150,000 toward the fence's installation and asked the board for $30,000. The board agreed to $13,500 -- the same amount that would have been spent on chain link.

Olson said chain link is ugly and costly to maintain.

"We're putting chain link all over the place," Olson said. "I bet half our fences aren't necessary."

In other business, the board recognized Wilson Middle School for receiving the national Blue Ribbon of Excellence Award and named adult basic education supervisor John Sherman principal of the South County Career Center.

The board also named three schools opening this fall.

A new elementary school in Brandon will be named after former board member and World War II veteran Hugo Schmidt. A new school in the Heritage Isles development in New Tampa will become Heritage Elementary.

A new middle school in Thonotosassa will be named Jennings Elementary School, reviving the name of a formerly all-black school.

The board also fired Sickles High School health assistant Matthew Koob for performance problems. He worked for the district for nine years.

Memorial High School special education teacher Rita Elzy was suspended without pay following an August arrest for cocaine possession.

-- Melanie Ave can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or melanie@sptimes.com.

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