Principal Jim Bell and teacher Jim Narayan are upset at the recent vandal attack.
By Callan Date
A BERWICK primary school is under attack from mindless vandals who continue to cause havoc at the school grounds.
Nearly $15,000 of damage was caused to a large shade sail at Brentwood Park Primary School last Saturday – frustrating staff and upsetting students on the eve of the Christmas holidays.
The damage comes only a week after a vandal wrecked the school flagpole while trying to steal the Australian flag.
Several fences were destroyed in another incident this year.
Principal Jim Bell said the latest attack had caused school officials to reconsider the open-grounds policy that the school promotes among the community.
“The sad thing is we have always welcomed the local youth and the community into our grounds to use our oval and basketball court,” Mr Bell said.
“But we feel as though we have been repaid by a senseless case of mindless vandalism.”
He said the students were shattered when they arrived at school on Monday and saw the damaged property.
“The little ones, who don’t really understand why this has happened, are pretty upset,” he said.
Mr Bell said the school council would now meet and discuss several issues in order to protect school property.
Increased security patrols and other security measures would be looked at.
Narre Warren police said sparklers or a similar fireworks device was lit and thrown onto the shade sails sometime between 3.30pm last Saturday and 4pm the following day.
The 10-metre by 20-metre shade sail had been up for only two years and was used to cover an outdoor basketball court as well as offer sun protection for the students.
The damage was not only confined to the shade sail – burnt material dripped down to the basketball court below and wrecked the asphalt court.
“A structure like this is not provided by the Education Department. We have a hard-working school committee and this is just an additional expense that will have to be allocated from somewhere else,” Mr Bell said.
Anyone with information about any of the vandalism attacks on the school is asked to contact police on 9705 3111.
