Vandalism, liability worries prompt heightened security
Earlier this month San Benito High School Trustees announced
their intent to install $35,000 worth of fencing and alarms in
response to increased campus vandalism and theft.
Vandalism, liability worries prompt heightened security
Earlier this month San Benito High School Trustees announced their intent to install $35,000 worth of fencing and alarms in response to increased campus vandalism and theft.
Graffiti is a regular occurrence on the high school campus and other more serious vandalism occurs about once a month, said Director of Operations and Finance Jim Koenig.
He said that school staff has to regularly re-paint campus surfaces before students even get to school.
Recently suspects broke in to the administration building and stole $6,000 worth of computers. Last week there was another break-in in which suspects targeted a few of the classrooms around the campus.
“In the past year we’ve had about $20,000 worth of damages and or losses … Fences would help us alleviate those problems,” Koenig said.
The high school would ultimately be installing only about 150 feet of fencing between 8-10 feet high around portions of the main campus that are not already gated.
Gates would be installed between O’Donnell gym and the auditorium, the auditorium and the library, the library and the cafeteria and across the breezeway at the Baler Alley entrance.
In addition to the fences the school is also looking at contracting with a local security company to provide security for the school when the campus is unused.
Having intruders on campus is also a liability for the district, said Koenig. The fencing and $20,000 in alarms are designed to deter thieves and vandals, not secure students. Gates will remain open during school hours; and alarms will be installed in the offices of the principal and registrar, the secretarial center and the district meeting rooms, as well as in one of the student services rooms and district offices on the second floor of the main building.
There has also been talk about adding fences to the parts of campus across Nash Road, but part of the campus on that side of the street is already fenced and there are also a number of portable classrooms that will be removed next summer, said Koenig.
Earlier this summer the district removed all of its general-use lockers, which were often targets for graffiti, theft or arson, a move that Koenig has estimated will save the district $25,000 in labor and materials.
Trustee Evelyn Muro said that she understood that the fences might be an issue for students and the community, since they are used to having access to the campus. It is also unclear how the fences will affect the aesthetics of the campus, but Muro said that she understands the pressures the district is under.
Sarah Ramses, 17, said that she hadn’t heard about the proposed fencing but wasn’t really surprised.
“It figures! It’s only a matter of time before the next thing. What’s next, dogs?” said Ramses.
Sean Garcia, 16, said he also hadn’t heard about the proposed changes.
“I guess, if it helps the school, that’s cool. I don’t think I’d wanna feel fenced in, but what choice do we have?” said Garcia.
Gilroy Unified School District Superintendent Edwin Diaz and Gilroy High School James Maxwell were contacted to find out what effects fences have had on the GHS campus, but neither returned phone calls.
