School opening delayed by vandalism

School at McCook Senior High was postponed school until 9:50 a.m. this morning due to vandalism over the weekend.

Cooking oil and other substances were spilled on the floor and poured on items, computers and books were damaged and desks were moved, said Officer Jerry Calvin with the McCook Police Department.

Maintenance people found the damages at 7 a.m. today.

School administrators chalked it up as a senior prank but were still treating it seriously.

"Some people think a senior prank is cute" said Jerry Smith, principal at MHS. " But when you can't have school, it's serious." Parents dropping off their children at school expect them to be at school and not dismissed unexpectedly, he said.

It also isn't an economical way to use taxpayer's dollars, he added.

Manpower hours will add up, with about 10-15 maintenance personnel cleaning up the damage.

"This is not a way you treat school," he said.

MHS Business Manager Rick Haney said the damage was a little worse than normal, due to the amount and level of inconvenience.

"This will be treated as a break -in," he said. "The expenses incurred went above and beyond what we've normally seen."

Despite the disruption, most students were helpful and asked if there was anything they could do to help, Haney said.