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09/01/17: “Removing Barriers” article by BAISCA’s Andrew LaRowe and Mike Raible of The School Solutions Group in the September 2017 issue of School Planning and Management Magazine.
Robert Frost said, “Never take down a fence until you know why it was put up.” Have you ever wondered about the purpose of a particular section of fencing at a school? The question might be answered by going all the way back to the original design of the campus. At the time of construction there may have been code requirements or local ordinances that required the project designer to specify fencing or other types of barriers. There may have been district level safety and security standards that were included in the design specifications. Over the span of time as codes, ordinances and district 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 become cluttered with many different types of barriers that may or may not be serving the original purpose. It may be time to assess current requirements against existing conditions and develop a comprehensive fencing management plan.
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