Moving quickly after a teacher voiced safety concerns about Caldwell Academy students playing on the old Tyler High School football field, Tyler ISD trustees authorized Thursday construction of a 6-foot-tall ornamental fence and gates to surround the field.

 The issue arose last month when the Caldwell physical education teacher, Dyann Kemp, told the board she occasionally calls Tyler ISD police to investigate reports of suspicious people on the field across South Bois D’Arc Avenue from Caldwell when students want to use it. Caldwell uses the field for recess, physical education and other outdoor activities.  Thursday, the school board accepted the low bid of RPR Construction to build a fence for the Caldwell playfield for $116,000. 

Thompson Architectural Group developed plans and specifications for the project. Professional fees of $2,500 bring the total cost of the fence to $118,500, to be paid out of the special projects category of the district’s general fund. 

“The addition of fencing will provide security for staff, students and enhance the aesthetics of the campus,” stated information handed the board. 

Director of Facilities Tim Loper said a large portion of the fence will consist of brick columns and wrought iron fencing – the same kind of fencing already in place at John Tyler and Robert E. Lee high schools – and the remainder will be vinyl fencing. 

Wrought iron fencing with brick columns will parallel along West Woldert, Bonner and South Bois D’Arc.

Two entrances will “Y off from existing sidewalks” with wrought iron fence and brick columns on Bois D’Arc and brick entryways, Loper said. 

There are also plans for an automatic gate, he said. To the back of the women’s lodge building on the south side of the property all the way behind a pizza restaurant to Wendy’s Restaurant to the opposite end on the west side would be black vinyl fencing, Loper said.

 A parking lot will accommodate emergency vehicles and maintenance equipment to reach into the site, Loper said. 

The brick will be chosen similar to brick on the Caldwell gymnasium, Loper said.

“It will look very nice; it will blend in,” he said. “Our goal is to maintain the heritage and time frame (of the old Tyler High School).” 

After Loper mentioned a keypad for the gates, Trustee the Rev. Orenthia Mason asked if the community would be able to use the field once the fence is completed.

 “I believe we can work something out,” Loper said, saying keypads can be keyed to open and keypads can be keyed to lock.

The Rev. Mason asked if there would be certain times of day for residents to be able to use the field. “We can set it up that way,” Loper said. 

Superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford said card reader access could be controlled through Wi-Fi so that access could be restricted when it’s time for students to use the field, but the gate could be programmed for after-hours use by the public for such activities as soccer games. 

Other bidders and their bids were: Sentry GC, $149,000; Garrett GC, $156,300; and WRL GC, $170,000.

 

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