Dist. 220 will be open today in wake of bus vandalism

Barrington-area schools are back open this morning -- one day after vandals slashed tires on 40 school buses, prompting the cancellation of all classes.

Other than a few late buses because of the snowstorm, classes resumed as normal today for the 9,000 students in Barrington Area Unit District 220.

Police are still investigating the predawn vandalism at the Barrington Transportation Co. bus barn, where someone slashed tires on 25 large and 15 smaller buses, said Sarah Sander, an administrator with the company that provides bus service to District 220.

One bus was also spray-painted with the words "Class of 2008."

More Coverage Stories How parents adjusted after they heard school was canceled [12/5/07] Barrington-area schools closed due to 'severe bus vandalism' [12/4/07]

"It looked like someone used an ice pick" on the tires, Sander said.

In all, Sander said 70 tires were damaged. She said they cost between $175 and $250 each to replace.

"It is going to be significant," Sander said of the replacement costs.

The company's nearly 140 buses are kept in a fenced-in lot on Main Street in Barrington, a few blocks east of the high school. Sander said the lot does have security lighting but not cameras or night patrols.

Barrington-Inverness Deputy Chief Jerry Libit had said Tuesday that the vandalism appeared "on the surface" to be the work of youths.

"But we are also not discounting that it could be someone else," Libit said.

He said police hoped that when students returned to class today, someone who did it will talk about it with other students. Authorities want students who hear anything about the incident to report it to school officials or police.

Superintendent Tom Leonard said the difficult decision to close school Tuesday was made at about 6 a.m., based on the number of buses available and the weather.

"We were concerned about the kids waiting outside in the cold, so we decided to close school," Leonard said.

About 7,000 students in the district ride the bus each day, Leonard said.

By early Tuesday afternoon, Sander said new tires had already arrived and were in the process of being installed.

"(Our tire vendor) came down with a whole truckload of tires," she said.

Both Sander and Leonard said they were expecting school will be back open as normal today.

Most school activities had already resumed Tuesday afternoon at Barrington High School.

The two Barrington middle schools also went ahead with scheduled basketball games.

While it has been an upsetting experience, Sander said the outpouring of offers for help from the community has been great.

She said a local bakery dropped off breakfast for those working on the tires and that local automobile repair shops have called to see how they can help.

"We have been so appreciative of everyone in town," Sander said.

The district has 12 facilities serving parts of Cook, Lake, Kane and McHenry counties.

For more information, visit the district's Web site at www.cusd220.org.