June 26, 2000
Schools throughout Utah have been plagued by a surge of vandalism, usually by students.
And now, one school district is fighting back.
Kids who destroy property in the Davis District will get a rude surpise. Along with any punishment by police, they will also be getting a bill!.
Education Specialist Nadine Wimmer reports on the crackdown on school vandalism.
We visited a school where on the last day, kids took cans of soda pop, shook them up and opened them on the cafeteria floor.
Stuff like this may seem harmless, but someone has to pay to clean it up.
And leaders in the Davis School District don't think it should be us.
"JUST A PEACE SIGN, PEACE TO EVERYBODY."
Peace and love won't be at the top of two students' minds when they get the $100 bill to repair the fresh cement they vandalized.
Dale May/Security Coordinator/Davis District: "THEY DON'T HAVE A CLUE. THEY JUST SAY IT'S A PIECE OF DUMB CEMENT, AND THEY CAN WASH OVER IT OR WHATEVER."
Denni Walker/Custodian: "THE PICTURE FRAMES WE HAVE HANGING IN THE HALL, THEY'RE ALWAYS BREAKING THOSE. BROKEN WINDOWS, SPILLED POP, YOU NAME IT."
Davis District is going after student vandals.
Administrators hired a former police detective to help track vandals down, and get court ordered restitution.
Students have to work off their vandalism bills.
Last year, he helped the district collect $15,000.
Nadine Wimmer, Eyewitness News: "HERE'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE. STUDENTS WORKING THEIR WAY DOWN THE LUNCH LINE WOULD WAIT 'TIL THE LUNCH LADY TURNED HER BACK, THEN THEY'D REACH INTO THE COOLER AND HELP THEMSELVES TO THE SNAPPLE JUICE. THEY STOLE 15 BOTTLES."
The students involved will pay $5.75 each.
Even a student caught stealing a pencil and two pens will pay.
"I PUT IN A DOLLAR RESTITUTION. THE SCHOOL GETS A DOLLAR BACK."
It's not just the money, but an effort to teach students that even small acts of vandalism cost everyone.
"THEY START REALIZING THEY'RE NOT JUST PLAYING AROUND, THIS ISN'T KIDS MISCHIEF. IT ENDS UP IN BUCKS. SOMEONE HAS TO PAY."
"IF THEY PAY FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE WRONG, MAYBE NEXT TIME THEY'LL LEARN THEY SHOULDN'T DO IT."
Again, some of these pranks may not seem like a big deal, but they add up.
By getting restitution, the district saved enough money to pay another teacher for half a year instead of paying to repair vandalism.
