UPDATE: Vandals stall New Prairie United Schools’ buses, Friday classes

By John Paul (jpaul@wsbt.com)

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Many of the buses at the New Prairie School transportation center were vandalized overnight

Many of the buses at the New Prairie School transportation center were vandalized overnight, canceling classes on Friday, February 20, 2009. (Tribune Photo/SANTIAGO FLORES)

By WSBT 24/7 News

Story Created: Feb 20, 2009 at 8:40 AM EST

Story Updated: Feb 20, 2009 at 6:13 PM EST

LAPORTE CO. — New Prairie Schools also had to cancel classes Friday after vandals damaged more than a dozen of their buses overnight.

Now school officials and the LaPorte County Sheriff's Department are investigating the damage.

Officials say vandals destroyed 15 buses — about a third of the fleet.

“We've had vandalism before,” said Keith Dennis of the New Prairie United School Corporation. “But nothing like this.”

Racially motivated remarks and swastikas were spray-painted all over the buses. Tires were punctured, fluid lines to the radiator and brakes were cut. Red fluid from those hoses remained on the ground Friday morning, until a company arrives to properly dispose of the hazardous material. Safety airbags on the suspension were also cut.

Fortunately, there were no reports of damage to the interior.

In the meantime, each bus will have to be inspected by the employees inside the garage to determine the extent of damage. The toll is something this school corporation has never seen.

“Right now it’s hard to put a price on it but we’re in the thousands of dollars,” said Transportation Director Lloyd Wood. “Whether it’s $3,000 or $8,000, at this point in time, we don’t know.”

“It’s very discouraging,” added Dennis. “Something we don't expect in our small community.”

Officials say school will be in session Monday. There will be several adjustments to the routes as employees work to find parts that are not immediately available. We're told some spare buses will be brought in.

Friday night’s scheduled basketball game has not been canceled.

Students may have to make up the class they missed Friday; the vandalism brings the total number of makeup days to five.

"It's too bad," said Sherri Hein, whose daughter attends school in the district. "They've missed a lot of school and they'll have to make this day up."

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Detective Brian Piergalski of the the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department at (219) 326-7700 x2561.

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