Vandalism at schools in Colwood and Langford has dropped to a 25-year low, saving the district tens of thousands of dollars, says a report from the Sooke School District.

The cost to repair and clean schools blotted with graffiti and smashed windows came in at $10,552 in 2010. The report offers data from 2007, when the annual cost of vandalism was $48,000.

B次元官网网址淭his is rock bottom,B次元官网网址� said secretary treasurer Dave Lockyer. B次元官网网址淪eeing $10,000 to $12,000 (in damage) over a calendar year is really low.B次元官网网址�

There are many variables behind vandalism, but Lockyer credits a district program where principals encouraged residents living near schools to call the police if they witnessed suspicious activity. The principals handed out fridge magnets with the RCMP phone number to help keep the request top of mind.

B次元官网网址淲e encouraged people that if they heard strange noises or saw people loitering or doing graffiti to please call the police,B次元官网网址� Lockyer said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got a great working relationship with communities, parents and residents around schools. It takes a community to protect these schools.B次元官网网址�

The school district has also hired a private security company to target specific schools where vandalism has flared up. In once instance, several people thought to be living in the bush and consuming drugs near Millstream elementary kept breaking into the school.

B次元官网网址淲e kept the heat up and they went away,B次元官网网址� Lockyer said. Millstream elementary racked up almost $4,000 in vandalism damage in 2007 and zero last year.

The decline in vandalism also coincided with LangfordB次元官网网址檚 community safety program, where Langford bylaw officers patrolled on mountain bikes in the evening to keep a lid on mischief and petty vandalism. Langford canceled that program in 2010.

B次元官网网址淭he bike patrols were huge,B次元官网网址� Lockyer remarked. B次元官网网址淏ut our security guards do a good job. WeB次元官网网址檙e hopeful not to see (vandalism) spike up again.B次元官网网址�

Some of the hardest hit schools have seen a dramatic decrease in damage in the past three years. Belmont secondary alone had $10,185 in vandalism in 2007 but only $1,300 last year. Wishart elementary reported $2,770 in damage in 2007 and $124 in 2010. Nearby Dunsmuir middle school had $2,200 in damage last year B次元官网网址� the highest in the district B次元官网网址� but still a significant step away from $5,700 in damage in 2007.

Carl Repp, who was principal of Dunsmuir in 2006, said windows were being broken almost every weekend when he came into that school, but turned it around through better lighting and increased patrols.

Repp said that there was suspicion among staff that a small number of specific youths committed most of the damage. Lockyer said there are plenty of examples of a few people causing thousands of dollars in damage in a matter of minutes.

B次元官网网址淭wo or three kids can smash $2,000 or $3,000 worth of windows in a short time,B次元官网网址� Lockyer said.

Dunsmuir is a prime example of a school designed without crime prevention in mind. It has too many alcoves, recessed areas and access points to the roof, Lockyer said. The district consults with police when designing new schools, as seen with Happy Valley elementary and John Stubbs Memorial.

Now principal of Belmont secondary, Repp said itB次元官网网址檚 a rare day when the high school is tagged or a window is smashed. Under a B次元官网网址渂roken windowsB次元官网网址� policy, the SD 62 facilities department removes graffiti and fixes damage immediately. B次元官网网址淔acilities is very good and fast,B次元官网网址� Repp said. B次元官网网址淭he kids donB次元官网网址檛 see (the damage).B次元官网网址�

Repp also credits the culture of Belmont, which puts emphasis on giving students a sense of belonging and a stake in the welfare of the school.

Students struggling in Belmont have alternatives, Repp noted, such as Pacific Secondary or the Metchosin technical program. With more choices, fewer kids lash out and vent frustrations by damaging the building.

B次元官网网址淚f kids want to be here, you get less vandalism,B次元官网网址� Repp said. B次元官网网址淚f you get a sense of ownership, a sense of belonging, not much comes back at the school.B次元官网网址�

editor@goldstreamgazette.com