Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Facilities Fencing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parents, trustees spar over new perimeter fences at El Roble and Rod Kelly parks
Summary
Residents and some trustees criticized the district for installing perimeter fencing at El Roble and Rod Kelly with what speakers described as limited community notice; board members and facilities staff said the projects are part of a long‑running facilities plan and were approved in public committee and board agendas for student safety.
At the meeting’s public comment and facilities update, a Gilroy parent and resident asked the board to halt a fencing project around El Roble and the adjacent Rod Kelly park, saying local residents did not receive notice and that the fences would remove informal public recreation space used by families and Little League.
Andrew Brinton said the fences appeared to have been installed "in the dark of night" and asked the new board to pause the project and reconsider whether it unnecessarily took public space away from neighborhood use. "These fences went up without notice... friends and neighbors were surprised and shocked and dismayed," he told trustees during public comment.
Facilities Director Paul Nadeau told the board the fence work is part of a multiyear district program to enclose campus perimeters and that posts are installed and paneling is near completion at El Roble and is scheduled to finish at Rod Kelly in January. He said the district coordinated with the city on placement and that the city is relocating signage to avoid confusion about park boundaries.
Trustees acknowledged community concern over communication but emphasized the board’s responsibility to student safety; several trustees said the work reflects years of planning through the facilities committee and was approved publicly. Board members and staff agreed to improve notification and coordinate signage relocation with the city to reduce resident confusion.
The board did not reverse the projects; staff said completion will continue and they will follow up on signage and outreach.
