Letters to the Editor - March 20, 2010
"The Horse is Out"
Navarre High School has a walk through gate to a vacant lot in the school's fence for students to funnel in and out onto Bristolwood Circle. School allowed students to funnel in and out to a privately owned residence on Water Oak Circle where the deputy recently arrested for sexual battery on a child reportedly resided.
Bristolwood residents have contacted the school to no avail addressing the issues of the open 24-7 gate. Owner of the vacant lot on Bristolwood put no trespassing signs on his property. The no trespassing signs were torn down after being nailed high in the trees. Adjoining resident to the west of the vacant lot locked the gate shut but the lock was cut and removed. Adjoining resident to the east of the vacant lot contacted me the morning of 10/21/08 asking if I would be willing to help compose a letter to the school. She wanted to address the back walk through entrance at the school.
10/21/08 my neighbor and I went through the back gate to deliver the letter. Being unfamiliar with the school we crisscrossed the campus, down hallways and breezeways to find the principal's office. An employee of the school when asked for location of the principal's office politely gave us directions to the office.
We explained to the school secretary the purpose of our visit. The secretary insisted we needed to speak to not the principal but an assistant. The assistant did not grasp the purpose of our visit. He told us more residents wanted the gates open than shut. He explained the deputy does not mind the students crossing through his yard to get to the school.
Letter delivered 10/21/08 to the school states: We have been very tolerant with Navarre High Schools walk through access gate from Bristolwood, but we no longer can be complacent to the school and neighborhood security issues. We are uncomfortable with the night and weekend adverse foot traffic this open gate brings to our neighborhood and the school campus. It is troubling the school fails to notice this security breach and allows this back access to the school at night and on weekends when school is not (in) session. Santa Rosa County School Board, Chapter 3.00 School Administration Domestic Security 3.43. II. The domestic security plan shall include the following components: A. Access Control. The District shall control access to and enhance the security of school campuses, District facilities, and transportation by implementing access control procedures and practices.
Letter addressed the other resident's horse going through the gate, apologizing for the horses’ actions. Letter was copied and mailed to the school district, school board member, county commissioner and sheriff. School installed a parallel offset fence allowing anyone access to the school campus yet making it impossible for horses to access school property from backside. What has to happen to make the school district have principles, just a little understanding of right and wrong?
Etta Lawlor
Navarre, FL
