VAN NUYS : Community Pitches In to Offset Vandals’ Work

Kindergarten teacher Tobi Rosen was crying again Thursday.

Ten days after she was reduced to tears by the destruction of her classroom by vandals, a stream of donations to help with repairs had her weeping once more, this time in appreciation.

New carpets, gallons of paint and plenty of emotional support were in evidence at Erwin Street School in Van Nuys, all offered to help erase vandalism to four classrooms on March 1.

The classrooms were trashed by graffiti “taggers.” In a one-night rampage, they splashed yellow and purple paint, knocked over cabinets and scrawled graffiti--including a swastika--on walls and windows. Three youths were later detained.

Merchants, parents, former students and even strangers have pitched in to help in the restoration. The rooms were cleaned, but many items, such as the carpets that kindergartners sit on, were damaged beyond repair.

Grant High School students, many of whom attended elementary school at Erwin, banded together last week to donate three new tricycles, a play car and a new fish tank for kindergarten teacher June Ikoma’s room. The vandals killed the fish and ruined the old tank when they emptied a fire extinguisher in the room.

“I feel like I could cry,” Ikoma said Thursday as she hugged one of the donors.

Merchants such as Gary Forsch, manager of Roscoe Hardware in Sun Valley, which donated paint supplies, came forward.

“I’m tired of vandalism,” Forsch said. “We want to send a message that the businesses around here care and want to get involved.”

Repainting has been scheduled for April 3. Rosen hopes that the volunteers will send a message.

“What we’re trying to do is bring the message to everyone that we need to focus on the good people of the world, rather than the few who don’t follow the rules,” Rosen said.