Broken windows accounted for most of the damage done to schools.
CHICOPEE — A six-month damage report shows vandalism to school buildings has dropped dramatically.
The School Committee recently reviewed reports from January through June that showed that there were $1,963 in damages done collectively to the city’s 15 school buildings.
That is a far cry from reports from 2007 when $4,000 was spent to fix broken windows and clean up graffiti in a period of three months. A year later in 2008, the damage total for the year for all the schools was more than $12,000. In 2009, school officials slowly started installing lighting and cameras to problem areas and the yearly total dropped to $7,200.
“Less than $2,000 (in damages) in six months is excellent. I will take that,” said Mayor Michael D. Bissonnette, who serves as chairman of the School Committee.
The security investments made over the years are now saving the schools money in repairs. For example there were frequent problems with broken windows at the somewhat isolated Sgt. Robert Litwin School, but in the past six months there has been no vandalism at the school.
“Many schools have not had any damage,” School Committee member Sandra A. Peret said. “That shows respect for the environment.”
Superintendent Richard W. Rege agreed, saying principals and the rest of the staff have fostered an environment of respect and that they have a zero tolerance policy for vandalism.
“Students know we have cameras all over the place and they don’t want to take a chance,” he said.
If police do catch vandals they will prosecute and try to get violators to reimburse schools for the cost of the repairs. Still, it is difficult to catch vandals, he said.
The majority of damage done from January to June this year is from broken windows at Patrick E. Bowe, Hugh Scott Streiber and Fairview Veterans Memorial Middle schools and Chicopee Academy. There also was graffiti sprayed at Anna E. Barry and Lambert-Lavoie schools.
Nine schools had no damage in the past six months: Belcher, Edward J. Bellamy Middle, Hebert V. Bowie, Comprehensive High, Chicopee High, Litwin, James C. Selser, Gen. James Stefanik and Szetela Early Childhood schools.