Security Fences at Edmond High Schools

A 6-foot iron fence reinforced by stone columns is a new addition to Edmond North High School.

The new fence is part of a new security measure taking place at all Edmond high schools. While there is no history of problems at any Edmond school, the school board decided to take measures to prevent any future risks. Jan Keirns, the principal of Edmond North, said the fence comes recommended by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. "The major effort is to keep people out who do not have proper business. With such a large campus with many separate buildings and fields, it is the recommended best practice..."

A portion of the funds for the $950,000 project came from a $25,000 grant from the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security. The remaining balance was included in the 2009 bond. Along with the fence, gate houses at entrances and parking lot attendants are another aspect to the new security.

The fence is not visible from the Danforth side of Edmond North. On the West side of the school, fence lines the street. The guard house on the West side has a large drive in front with a turn around. Overflow parking lots currently have the same bar fence along the street, with chain-link on surrounding sides. Keirns compared the fencing to Heritage Hall and Bishop McGuiness, two private schools in Oklahoma City.

The new fences are not expected to affect the ability for parents to pick up their students before and after school. Keirns said, "The goal however is to regulate traffic for check in and out for visitors, separate from students and staff who have visible hangars on their windshields, allowing them normal flow into and out of the parking lot."The fence is expected to help cut down on truancy at Edmond North, and help restrict underclassmen from leaving campus during lunch. Seniors will still have an open-campus for lunch.

The fence is not the only new security feature at Edmond North. "Our new addition to the main entrance includes a new administrative wing at the front that has a double security entry to require anyone entering the front of the building to check in through the main office," Keirns said. Not yet fully operating, the fence security should be completed within the next month.