Members of Chippewa Secondary School’s administration team released a statement indicating that construction will begin on a controversial fence on school property “in the coming weeks.”
The fence, which was approved by the Near North District School Board, will cost $611,000 plus HST. Ed Séguin & Sons Trucking Paving Ltd. was awarded the contract for the work, having put in the lowest bid.
“In our ever-evolving world today,” school administration noted in a letter to parents, “our school is constantly working to improve the safety and security of students, staff, families and guests.” Hence the fence, which will surround the field at the north end of the property, “and the other is around the school itself.”
See related: On guard: School board green lights Chippewa fencing
As noted by the school board, the purpose of the fence is to reduce trespassing and vagrancy from those using the low-barrier shelter and occasional warming centre in the former OPP building located across the street from the school.
As for what this fence will look like, details are few. The school board explained to BayToday that it will have a response soon regarding those details but did not comment in time for this update.
See also: King 'surprised' by Chippewa fence project
Chippewa’s administration did provide a hint, noting that “great consideration has been given to how the materials used will look,” adding “an ornamental safety fencing will be used around the school itself to add to the beauty of the building.”
Chain link fencing “will surround the field,” staff added.
The materials and machines will be arriving in the coming weeks, so everyone is reminded to remain cautious as the work begins.
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada
