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Anchorage Schools Hit by Vandals
Six schools have been vandalized since the end of the school year
By Lauren Maxwell
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ANCHORAGE - It’s a sad occurence that seems to happen every year. School gets out for the summer and the vandalism starts. Unfortunately, it has already hit Anchorage.
ASD security chief Gardner Cobb said at least six Anchorage schools were vandalized over the first weekend of summer vacation. Most of the damage was minimal: broken glass from BB guns and rocks.
But some of the acts were more serious.
At Romig Middle School someone broke through the windows of two portable buildings and stole computer equipment worth thousands of dollars.
The Anchorage School District said that’s money literally out the window.
The district spends an average of $200,000 to $300,000 a year repairing and replacing equipment due to vandalism. It’s money that comes from the district’s general fund budget and could be going towards the classroom or other programs.
One way the district is fighting back is with a program called “Camper Hosts” that allows people to camp out on school grounds in their motorhomes for the summer. Hosts keep an eye on the school in exchange for power and water provided by the district.
The district has about 70 hosts signed up for this summer, but said it could use more. Officials also encourage the public to call police if they spot anything that looks suspicious happening at a local school.
