The numberof reported vandalism incidents in the Howard County Public School System decreased from two school years ago, but the cost to repair the damage increased, according to a system report.
“Broken windows, graffiti and cracked or broken urinals” are examples of the most prevalent types of vandalism, said Debby Rinebarger, assistant to the manager of the Safety, Environment and Risk Management office with the school system.
“It?s more pricey than people think to replace windows, and when you take into account the labor … costs have escalated.”
School officials work with police, parents and the juvenile justice system to nab vandals and make them pay restitution, but in most cases, they don?t find the perpetrators, Rinebarger said.
“In a good 99 percent of the cases, we don?t know” who has committed the vandalism, Rinebarger said.
High schools reported the most vandalism, and some school principals said they?re addressing the issue.
“We have emphasized to our students respect for the building, and along with that, respect for one another,” said David Brown, principal at Mount Hebron High School. “I?ve also alerted my staff to be on the lookout for vandalism and graffiti.”
“We?ve put up some lighting and installed outside cameras [to deal with vandalism],” said William Ryan, principal at River Hill High School.
County vandalism
» In the 2004-05 school year, 754 incidents of vandalism/graffiti were reported.
» That number declined by 187 to 567 in the 2005-06 school year.
» The total cost to repair the damage was more than $115,000 during the 2004-05 school year. The school system recouped about $5,700 toward that cost.
» That figure jumped by $51,000 to more than $166,000 in the 2005-06 school year, with the system receiving more than $11,000 toward expenses.
Source: Howard County Public School System?s Property Vandalism, Theft and Graffiti Report
