Residents voice concern over fence construction at Tredyffrin/Easttown

By Richard Ilgenfritz rilgenfritz@mainlinemedianews.com

Citing security and recommendations by law enforcement, district officials approved the plan in February that would place the fences around each of the five properties.

Recently contractors began removing vegetation from areas around where work is to be done. Actual construction on the fences is expected to begin once school is out for the summer.

At a Friday, June 13 afternoon Facility Committee meeting, about two dozen residents attended the meeting with many of them speaking up and raising concerns over the project.

My concern is that the fence plan is going to interfere with our enjoyment of our property and detract from the value of our property, said Berwyn resident Rob Adams.

Other speakers raised concern over the costs of the project when the district has complained about financial constraints.

You really need to convince stakeholders that a 5-foot chain link fence is worth $250,000 when we have such financial woes, said Kathleen Johnson.

Several residents also brought up the idea questioning the effectiveness of a five-foot fence in keeping out an intruder when one resident said, Theres hardly anybody in this room that if they wanted to get over that 5-foot fence couldnt get over it.

Johnson also expressed concern over the security and the potential for an evacuation of students.

We are concerned about emergency situations. While I have been told and many of us have been told in our constant questions over the past several weeks there is no scenario that would require all of the children to be evacuated from a school property. Thats just not an answer that parents want to hear. We understand that evacuation plans cannot be publicly divulged. We understand the details of those plans cannot be publicly divulged. Were not asking for that. What were asking for is confidence that when you completely enclose a school property that you can get our children off [school property]. It does not take a creative imagination to envision a scenario where we need to the children off [school property] and we need to get them off quickly, Johnson said. Continued...

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Residents voice concern over fence construction at Tredyffrin/Easttown