Damage done

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EAST LIVERPOOL - Vandalism to LaCroft Elementary School may have implications on the school's reconstruction effort, according to one school official.

In a memo dated Aug. 22 and sent to Superintendent Ken Halbert, board members and others, school board President Gary Bonnell said an Aug. 20 pre-bid meeting walk through of the building with contractors "was disheartening to say the least."

The building was "vandalized to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars," according to Bonnell.

"The interior area vandalized, such as the classroom windows reinforced with mesh, was going to be reused in the upgraded building. The incident most certainly did not communicate a very positive image to the contractors in view of the bid opening two weeks from now," Bonnell stated in his memo. "Most contractors, after viewing the vandalism, will most likely go with a higher bid to compensate for any future potential damage that may occur."

Someone with a baseball bat or pipe broke nearly every window inside the LaCroft building, according to Bonnell. Material was thrown all over the gym floor and graffiti was scattered throughout.

On Aug. 20, Bonnell contacted Liverpool Township Police Chief Charlie Burgess and reviewed with him the damages.

Approximately nine months ago, only a few exterior windows were broken, and Bonnell asked Burgess to patrol the area. Burgess told Bonnell that his department contacted the district's maintenance department on at least three occasions regarding a large broken window where they thought vandals were entering.

"To date, that window has not been boarded as requested by the police department," Bonnell states in his memo.

Combined with the reported theft of materials from the North Elementary and high school reconstruction project, letting the LaCroft vandalism go without action would not be in the district's best interest, according to Bonnell.

"We're sending a bad message. ... If you want to steal or vandalize, go ahead and do it," Bonnell said.

"Despite the board majority opinion, I think this is an act of vandalism," Bonnell said. " ... we must prosecute, to the fullest extent of the law, anyone who trespasses on our property to commit vandalism or to steal any materials whether it be in dumpsters, recycling containers or the storage of materials."

In the case of any missing material due to theft from a contractor, the contractor must pay the first $5,000 and the district will pay, through builders risk insurance, the balance of the amount stolen per occurrence, according to Bonnell.

"If stealing become prevalent, this will drastically increase, if not cancel, the builders risk policy due to numerous incidents," the board president said.

A temporary chain link fence will be put around the parameter of the LaCroft site, but if someone wants to enter the area, they could still climb over or cut through the fence. Therefore, Bonnell said discussions have been conducted concerning the use of a security firm to patrol both building sites.

Bonnell also raised a concern regarding some keys discovered by Chris Heasley, construction manager for R.P. Carbone. The keys were found on the gymnasium floor and allowed access to not only the building but also for every door and lock inside LaCroft.

Bonnell stated in his memo that he gave those keys to Halbert on Aug. 21.

The bid opening for the LaCroft Elementary School reconstruction project is scheduled for Sept. 9.