Rural Elementary School Vandalized Again - KGWN –Cheyenne, WY– Scottsbluff, NE News,Weather, Sports

Rural Elementary School Vandalized Again

For the third time in just the last year, a rural Laramie County elementary school was the victim of vandalism.

Located approximately 20 miles west of Cheyenne, Willadsen Elementary School has been a lightning rod for acts of vandalism recently.

"I believe this is like the third incident we've had in the last 12 months probably and in my time as principal out here probably the sixth or seventh incident of vandalism that we've had," said Harry Petty, Principal at Willadsen Elementary.

The Sheriff's Department believes it's been the same culprits each time. The latest incident occurring sometime over this past weekend.

The vandals used a rock to break the window of the front door to gain access to the building before going inside to do further damage.

Monica Mallon, a teacher at Willadsen says she was notified around 2 p.m. Sunday.

"Whoever came in flipped the tables in one classroom and went downstairs and flipped the tables down there," Mallon said.

The water dispenser was also knocked over and the spilled water ruined some of the children's artwork that had been thrown to the ground. Nothing was stolen and expensive equipment, like computers, were unharmed.

The vandals also destroyed one of Mrs. Mallon's prized possessions, her Golden Apple Award.

"When I came in and started looking around I found this knocked onto the floor and broken. My apple was broken off. So, I was very disappointed," Mallon said.

Principal Petty says the school is difficult to monitor but solutions will be discussed.

"I'll discuss them with school officials, with district officials and we'll try to come up with some ideas. We've had conversations about security cameras," Petty said.

Mrs. Mallon thinks security cameras would help, but she's not sure if they would be a fool proof solution.

"The previous time they broke out what they thought might have been a camera so we don't know what the solution is," Mallon said.