OXNARD : Schools See Rising Cost of Vandalism

The price tag for vandalism at Oxnard’s elementary schools has risen for the fifth straight year, according to a report released today by the Oxnard School District.

Over the last year, the school district’s 22 properties incurred $43,223 worth of damage determined to be “purposely and maliciously done,” said Donna Marks, the administrator who prepared the report.

Broken windows, door frames carved by knives and shattered mirrors accounted for some of the damage, but more than 60% of the vandalism was from graffiti, the report said.

“It just seems like graffiti is on the rise everywhere,” said Sandra Herrera, assistant superintendent.

“It’s frustrating because it’s a waste of taxpayers’ money to have to paint the same walls over and over again,” Herrera said.

The money to pay for repairs will come from the same fund used for general maintenance on school properties.

The new figures for vandalism show a $3,500 increase from 1992 and a $29,000 increase from 1989.

The campuses with the most severe vandalism problems were Fremont School, Haydock School and Lemonwood Elementary School. Each of those schools faced a bill of more than $5,000 in damage, the report said.