Buses, classes back in action in Dist. 220

Other than some snow-related delays, buses were running as normal Wednesday in Barrington Area Unit District 220.

Classes resumed a day after vandals slashed tires on 40 school buses, prompting the shutdown of all schools in the district Tuesday.

"It was a difficult morning because of the weather, but not because of anything that happened yesterday," Superintendent Tom Leonard said.

Barrington-Inverness police did not return calls Wednesday seeking an update on their investigation.

But Leonard said Wednesday afternoon that police informed him no arrests had been made in the pre-dawn vandalism at the Barrington Transportation Co. bus barn, where someone slashed tires on 25 large and 15 smaller buses.

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

Leonard said that if the culprit or culprits are determined to be Barrington students, he anticipates both criminal charges and school disciplinary action.

"There would be school consequences," he said.

Following the vandalism, officials in neighboring school districts said they also were worried about potential damage to their buses.

Don Skinner, interim co-director of transportation for Palatine Township Elementary School District 15, said his staff was concerned about potential copycats.

"It's a shame. It's a regretful thing," he said. "The kids, if they were kids, didn't take into account the severity of the problem and the costs."

Anyone with information on the vandalism is asked to call Barrington-Inverness police at (847) 304-3300.