Bullard High School principal Armen Torigian spoke at Monday’s Fresno Unified workshop on facilities about why his campus needs a security fence.

“We’re very susceptible for people walking on campus,” Torigian told trustees. “Where a kid walks on campus, goes into a classroom, tries to pull a kid out, and tries to beat the kid up.

“A single point of entry — that’s what this fence does for us. A kid with disabilities can very easily run out  the parking lot. … my school psychologist got bit trying to hold a kid back when he was in the middle of the street. So, it’s not just to keep people out, but to keep our students safe.”

Last week, plans for a new security fence were put on hold when the School Board voted to table the $2 million bid award on a 4-3 vote.

Trustees Tabled Fence Vote Last Week

Voting to table were board clerk Valerie Davis and trustees Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas, Keshia Thomas, and Claudia Cazares after questions were raised about the project’s cost nearly doubling since February 2021, when it was considered — and rejected — by trustees on a 4-2 vote.

School Board President Susan Wittrup, who represents the Bullard High region, said later that trustees who voted to delay consideration of the fence engaged in “shameful” retaliation after she publicly called for the district to widen its search for a new superintendent.

Jonasson Rosas denied that her motion to table the bid award was retaliatory. She emphasized that the vote to table was not an outright rejection of the project, which she said the board needs to weigh against other facilities needs when setting up a priority list.