Hollister
– A special education classroom at Sunnyslope School was
vandalized over the weekend.
Hollister – A special education classroom at Sunnyslope School was vandalized over the weekend.
Red, black and green Tempura paint was splashed and poured throughout the classroom, causing irreparable damage to three computers, a compact disc player, and multiple books and files, said Jones. The classroom’s carpet was also damaged by the paint and profanity was scratched into the whiteboard.
Teacher Erin Jones discovered the vandalism when she went to work Monday morning. Authorities believe it probably occurred late Sunday afternoon.
Jones, who teaches in the classroom, estimated the damage to facilities and supplies at about $1,000.
“This just shows no respect. I really want these kids to be caught,” she said.
Jones’ class was moved to a different room for the morning, while facilities workers from the Hollister School District office cleaned the classroom. The students were able to return to the classroom after lunch.
Hollister Police Department investigators dusted for fingerprints, but were unable to pull anything useable, said Officer Rosie Betanio, a spokeswoman for the department.
Officers found no signs of forced entry, Betanio said, adding that a door may have been left unlocked.
Jones said she believes it was adolescents who committed the vandalism. She said she hopes someone will come forward with information regarding the crime and is even offering a $100 reward for information leading to the apprehension of the people involved.
“The best way that they’re going to get caught is if people keep their ears open, because these kids usually talk,” Jones said.
Sunnyslope Principal Melinda Scott said there is no way of knowing if a student at the school was involved.
“We’re trying to be a little bit positive,” Scott said. “Luckily, no one was hurt.”
Jones said she has no reason to believe the vandals were targeting her class or her personally.
The screen of a nearby classroom had been broken, but the room had not been successfully broken into.
“I think it was just opportunity, for whatever reason,” Jones said. “They could have done a lot more damage to the other half of my room: It was like somebody got scared and left.”
Nothing of value was stolen from the classroom, but several of the items that were damaged were Jones’ personal items, which cannot be replaced by the school district.
Two similar incidents of vandalism occurred in October 2006 at R.O. Hardin and Calaveras schools, although the damage to the schools was much more extensive. The vandals in those cases, three male juveniles, were caught.
Alice Joy covers education for the Free Lance. She can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 336 or at aj**@fr***********.com.
