AUBURN - The Auburn Enlarged City School District is making it clear that trespassers on its property - particularly at Owasco Elementary School - will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Jill Connor / The Citizen
At the Auburn school board meeting Tuesday, Superintendent J.D. Pabis explains to board members Michael Stearns and Joe Leogrande about the new “No trespassing” signs that have been installed at Owasco Elementary School's playground due to concerns brought to the board's attention of illegal activities occurring in the evening.
At the Auburn school board meeting Tuesday, Superintendent J.D. Pabis explains to board members Michael Stearns and Joe Leogrande about the new “No trespassing” signs that have been installed at Owasco Elementary School's playground due to concerns brought to the board's attention of illegal activities occurring in the evening.
Newly minted “No trespassing” and “School grounds will be closed from dusk until dawn” signs have been installed at Owasco Elementary School to deter anyone from loitering on school property and potentially engaging in illegal activity, Superintendent J.D. Pabis said.
Letters signed by the district are in the hands of law enforcement that supports any action taken if anyone is trespassing on school property.
Pabis said Cayuga County Sheriff Dave Gould has personally been involved in measures to keep trespassers off school property and, “We've been having a cooperative dialogue back and forth.”
The district has also installed fencing surrounding brush inside the school property to keep out all-terrain vehicles, other motorized vehicles and cut-off areas that could be used as walkways.
The measures stem from a conversation between the board of education and Owasco Town Supervisor John Klink regarding activities that occur within the brush area, such as alcohol consumption.
Pabis pointed to an incident that occurred last month in which people who were allegedly drinking on Owasco Elementary property later engaged in a street fight.
Klink asked the board last month to, at the least, install “No trespassing” signs on the property as a deterrent and a tool for law enforcement.
But he also suggested the district could potentially go beyond signage and take down the brush area.
Pabis said during the board meeting Tuesday that he was not inclined to go that route due to environmental - as some of that area is natural wetlands - and budgetary standpoints.
“It's natural tree growth,” he said. “We're not going to go in and bulldoze it.”
Pabis said Klink was appreciative of the district's action in preventing further trespassing.
“We did contain our own property, and Mr. Klink was gracious and thanked us for it, and thanked the board for acting on it so quickly,” he said.
When it comes to other district property, Pabis said he hasn't heard any recent complaints, though board member Michael Stearns indicated there has been activity at the corner of Metcalf Drive and South Street.
The next board meeting is slated for 7 p.m. Aug. 26 at the Harriet Tubman Administration Building, 78 Thornton Ave., Auburn.
Letters signed by the district are in the hands of law enforcement that supports any action taken if anyone is trespassing on school property.
Pabis said Cayuga County Sheriff Dave Gould has personally been involved in measures to keep trespassers off school property and, “We've been having a cooperative dialogue back and forth.”
The district has also installed fencing surrounding brush inside the school property to keep out all-terrain vehicles, other motorized vehicles and cut-off areas that could be used as walkways.
The measures stem from a conversation between the board of education and Owasco Town Supervisor John Klink regarding activities that occur within the brush area, such as alcohol consumption.
Pabis pointed to an incident that occurred last month in which people who were allegedly drinking on Owasco Elementary property later engaged in a street fight.
Klink asked the board last month to, at the least, install “No trespassing” signs on the property as a deterrent and a tool for law enforcement.
But he also suggested the district could potentially go beyond signage and take down the brush area.
Pabis said during the board meeting Tuesday that he was not inclined to go that route due to environmental - as some of that area is natural wetlands - and budgetary standpoints.
“It's natural tree growth,” he said. “We're not going to go in and bulldoze it.”
Pabis said Klink was appreciative of the district's action in preventing further trespassing.
“We did contain our own property, and Mr. Klink was gracious and thanked us for it, and thanked the board for acting on it so quickly,” he said.
When it comes to other district property, Pabis said he hasn't heard any recent complaints, though board member Michael Stearns indicated there has been activity at the corner of Metcalf Drive and South Street.
The next board meeting is slated for 7 p.m. Aug. 26 at the Harriet Tubman Administration Building, 78 Thornton Ave., Auburn.
The Citizens' Say
There are No comments posted.