District upgrades Citrus Heights schools with new security fencing, locks

By Sara Beth Williams–
Campus fencing and safety projects have wrapped up at several local schools in Citrus Heights, according to the San Juan Unified School District.

The district recently announced in a newsletter at the beginning of the school year that fencing projects at Arlington Heights Elementary School, Lichen K-8 School, Kingswood K-8 School, Mesa Verde High School, and San Juan High School, were recently completed..

In June 2022, Daniel Thigpen, the district’s executive director of labor relations, reported that the district had earmarked $10 million in funds to use for updating and modernizing all campuses. The district then spent seven months conducting school site safety assessments. In August 2023, Thigpen outlined several areas of concern, including out-of-date camera systems, internal door locking mechanisms, and perimeter fencing.

“One major focus area was around fencing and creating single or limited points of entry on our campuses,” San Juan Unified School District Director of Communication Raj Rai told The Sentinel on Thursday. Rai confirmed that along with new and upgraded fencing being completed at five area schools for the 2024-25 school year, fencing projects had already been previously completed at Carriage Drive Elementary, Grand Oaks Elementary, Skycrest Elementary, Sylvan Middle School, and Woodside K-8.

New internal locking mechanisms were installed on 381 teaching spaces and classrooms, in order to “ensure that each of our classrooms can be easily locked from the inside,” Rai said, adding that the district will continue to address a handful of spaces that still need updated hardware.

In regard to upgrading camera systems, the district said the effort is “in the research and planning stages” as the district continues to discuss available technologies and what it would look like to implement.

When asked about frequent vandalism occurring at the new state-of-the-art stadium recently completed at Mesa Verde High School, Rai said the district continues to remain “vigilant” and will continue to work closely with the Citrus Heights Police Department should there be any future incidents.