Throughout this school year, Lake Shore High School has been plagued with a series of vandalism and property destruction in several of the boys’ restrooms.
The vandalization consisted of urine on the floors, graffiti on the stall doors and walls, Slurpees thrown all over, and purposefully clogged toilets stuffed with toilet paper rolls and feces.
Campus Monitor Jeff Valken stated, “I believe it’s more than one student, but I don’t think it’s a big, you know, like group or gang of people. I think it’s probably like two or three students that for some reason think that’s funny, and they will get caught.”
Due to the severity of the destruction, which consisted of repeated damages to the sinks in the bathrooms, the boys’ upstairs and the boys’ science hallway restrooms have been temporarily closed, leaving only three bathrooms functional for male students. Not only does it create new challenges for students to use the bathrooms due to closures, but the school and tax-paying parents have to spend more and more money to fix the bathrooms which redirects the school from using that money for things that would be beneficial.
Coach William Puvalowski, Lake Shore High School’s Dean of Students, reveals what will happen to the students responsible for the vandalism or the destruction of property, Puvalowski stated, “So, there’s the consequence that goes with that but if it’s like the destruction of you’ll be dealing with or destruction of property and wherever that goes with them too. So, I would say depending on what it is, there’s probably school and potential legal consequences with what’s going on.”
Puvalowski’s statement indicates the consequences that a culpable student may face for their actions. Students who are held liable for vandalism will face school consequences ranging from suspension or depending on the severity of the action, a student can face expulsion from Lake Shore Public Schools.
A student who is held liable for the destruction of property may face both school and legal consequences, with legal consequences varying from strenuous hours of community service, hundreds to thousands of dollars in fines, and depending on the severity of the destruction, they can be charged with malicious destruction of a building or property, which they may have to serve time in the Juvenile Detention Facility or Jail, depending on their age.
When asked the message he would like to give to these troublesome vandals, Valken said, “It’s costing the school money, which, in turn, costs your parents money because taxes pay for the school, and they’ve just fixed the sinks in the well, science bathroom, and now they’re destroyed again. And, that wasn’t even a full month, and there’s no point or purpose to this. When you’re caught, they’re probably gonna wind up suspending you or expelling you, and when you need to use the bathroom there won’t be a bathroom because of what you have done.”
Although the students who have done these actions may believe this is fun and games, they will affect their future, their families, and the Lake Shore High School staff and students. These despicable deeds may revoke their collegiate scholarships, stain their reputations, and will be placed on their record till they’re eighteen years of age. Their families will be affected due to the costly fines and other consequences the student may be held liable for. The innocent students are severely altered by these unacceptable actions by the devious students because they cause an unsanitary environment to use the restroom.
If you have any information or leads on who may be doing these awful, recurring displays of property destruction or vandalism in the boys’ restrooms, please contact Coach Will Puvaloski, Vice Principal Dr. Stevens, or Principal Dr. Bross.
