Facilities committee defers full replacement of middle school perimeter fence, will seek Saint John and village input

The Waunakee Community School District Facilities Committee discussed whether to replace chain-link fence sections around the new middle school site and decided not to pursue immediate replacement of two less-visible sections, while seeking input from Saint John representatives and the Village before acting on the more visible portion that borders Saint John’s Cemetery.

Committee members and staff described three color-coded fence zones on the site plan and recommended leaving the two less-visible zones in place. Staff said the chain-link in the purple zone sits above a roughly 10-foot retaining wall and is largely grown into the woods; the blue zone similarly is low-profile and primarily functions as landscape edging. Committee members said those stretches are not worth replacing because they are neither accessible nor visible from primary school circulation.

The committee flagged the orange and red sections — the stretch visible from the school and public frontage — as “unsightly” and in poor condition. Staff advised that replacing the red/orange sections would improve the appearance and provide a clearer barrier between the school and adjacent cemetery, but they recommended confirming ownership and preferences with Saint John-appointed contacts and the Village before committing funds or direction.

Committee members said the visible fence provides supervisory value for middle school students and gives parents and administrators reassurance that students cannot easily access the cemetery. Members agreed staff should contact Saint John representatives and the Village for input, ask construction manager Vogel for a quote to remove (rather than replace) certain sections if desired, and return the item to a future meeting. No formal board action to replace or remove fence sections was taken at the committee meeting.

The committee also discussed logistics and options: staff said Vogel can supply tear-out and replacement pricing; staff noted the project plans were submitted with “no existing fence to stay,” and that village review of the plans may not have considered the current fence condition. Staff said they will collect quotes and the Village’s perspective and bring a recommendation back when Adam (the staff member who led prior discussions) returns from leave.

The discussion occurred during the agenda item for the new middle school contingency tracker and site items. Committee members emphasized student supervision near the cemetery and a desire to be respectful to the village and the cemetery property owners before taking action.

Next steps include staff outreach to Saint John contacts and the Village, gathering cost estimates for either replacement or removal from Vogel, and scheduling the fence item for a future Facilities Committee meeting so the committee can decide with ownership and plan-review information in hand.