Secure. Useless. Robust. These are all words Skyline students used to describe the new fence lining the side-walk in front of the auditorium.
Many students assumed the fence was a response to the terrifying incident in Skyline’s 20s building on Nov. 12, but
according to Principal Rebecca Huang, there was a different reason — the decision was actually made by the superintendent several years ago because Skyline was the only school in Oakland that didn’t “have eyes on all the students at all times.”
“It’s not directly related to the incident that happened this year in November at all. It was already in the works,” Ms. Huang told The Oracle in an interview on Jan. 12.
The fence cost $64,455, according to district officials. It was paid for entirely by a grant that OUSD received that was specifically set aside for Skyline improvements, so no budget cuts were made because of the fence.
Despite not knowing the source of the funding or the sum, many Titans said they would rather have had the money used for improvements else-where. The majority of students interviewed didn’t think the fence would change anything about campus security.
Yuri Aguilar Sales, a sophomore in the AED pathway, feels the fence is a waste of money. “I actually hate it,” Aguilar Sales said.“It’s dumb because the front office [area] is open. It does not make any sense.”
Joshua Garcia Mendiola, a senior in CHED, agrees that the fence won’t solve Skyline’s security problems.
“I feel like the new fence is stupid because the problems are inside the school, not outside,” he said.
Nevertheless, a handful of students interviewed feel that the fence has given them a sense of security, if only marginally.
“The fence … makes me feel a bit more secure,” said Jack Ramos, a sophomore in the Green Energy pathway.
“I feel like the new fence is stupid because the problems are inside the school, not outside.”
-Joshua Garcia Mendiola
CHED senior
When asked if she has heard the concerns of students, Ms. Huang said she does hear students and is open to talking with them. The school has already hosted a community circle day in the library, but Ms. Huang said it had low turnout.
“There weren’t that many kids that came, but I did talk to several. I did hear a couple people who didn’t like it, but it wasn’t too bad,” she said, also disclosing that there are more plans in the making to secure Skyline from outside dangers, including more fences.
When asked about further improvements being made on campus, John Sasaki, the OUSD Director of Communications, said there are two planned improvements for Skyline.
The first is iron fencing and gates at the main entrance, scheduled to be constructed during spring break. The second is implementing safety barrier arm gates at the main entrance with a guard shack for increased traffic control. The date of construction for those gates has not yet been determined.
“Have you ever driven by Fremont High School, and you’ve seen those doors?” asked Ms. Huang. “It’s going to look like that. That’s what we’re going to be doing.”
