Letters

The Noyac Civic Council Executive Committee discussed with Superintendent Jeff Nichols the criminal vandalism event by approximately 48 senior students of Pierson High School on June 13.

The superintendent informed us that students broke in between 11:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. The event was recorded, and the students were later identified: About 23 kids were involved with damaging an AC unit, about 25 were on the roof, and 11 to 12 stuffed an American flag in the toilet. There was $300 to $400 in damage, littering, graffiti and the destruction of school property.

Alarms went off, but security thought the motion detectors were malfunctioning (which seems odd on a night when the students were camping out on Pierson Hill). Police surveilled the area, did not enter the building and quickly left.

We asked Mr. Nichols, “What if a student had fallen off the roof? What if someone was assaulted? Was alcohol involved?”

The disrespect to the American flag was the most unacceptable action done by these students. This is not a prank that should be mimicked by next year’s seniors.

The punishment given to the students was in-school suspension. Mr. Nichols also counseled the students. Yes, the police could have arrested these students for breaking and entering and destroying public property, but they did not. The students could have been removed from participating at graduation but were not. Instead, taxpayers will cover the costs of this vandalism.

Young people make mistakes and do stupid things, as most of us have when we were kids. However, these students crossed the line when they disrespected our flag.

That is why I said at the July 11 Board of Education meeting: “The NCC is not chastising the BOE. Rather, the NCC is offering to help make positive changes so this never happens again.”

The NCC offered to work with the district in developing a civics curriculum with local veterans organizations, so the students realize and respect the sacrifices American veterans have made for our country.

The NCC suggested that the school district increase the required community service hours from 10 over four years to 10 hours each year. Middle schoolers should also be required to serve two hours for each year of middle school.

Each year, the code of conduct should be reviewed and the students and their parents should sign it. The curriculum should have a review of the Principles of Character.

We are happy that the district is reviewing and updating the security systems. We are hoping to see a clear security audit to address security deficiencies.

The Noyac Civic Council is looking forward to working with the board to make positive changes so this extreme senior “prank” never happens again.

Elena Loreto

President

Noyac Civic Council

This letter was submitted on behalf of the entire Executive Committee of the Noyac Civic Council — Ed.