NORWALK/LA MIRADA : Anti-Vandalism Policy Puts Burden on Parents

The Norwalk-La Mirada Unified school board has approved a policy that allows officials to sue parents to collect costs of repairing and cleaning up school vandalism traced to students.

The school district has sent bills to parents for damage costs, but the effort has been relatively unsuccessful, officials said. Last year, the district paid $11,356 to clean up graffiti and other vandalism, but only a small amount was recovered.

Acting Supt. Ginger Shattuck said that under the new policy, the district could sue parents and guardians of students in small claims court. Officials want to recover not only the cost of repairs or replacement of damaged property but also court fees and rewards for information.

“I believe citizens are tired of paying tax dollars to repair the vandalism of children who have been irresponsible,” said board President Rudy Bermudez, who proposed the policy.