Student who set fire at Naperville school caught
Naperville police have caught the Scott Elementary School student who set a fire at the school that caused more than $100,000 in damage.
Because of the student's age, police do not plan to press criminal charges and have turned the matter over to Naperville Unit District 203, according to Cmdr. Mike Anders.
Police believe the student acted alone. Neither police nor the district will release the age or gender of the student. School district officials also will not say what kind of disciplinary measures they may take.
Firefighters were called to the school at 500 Warwick Drive on the morning of Friday, Nov. 20 for a fire that began in the boys washroom and destroyed a toilet paper dispenser and stall partition.
No one was injured but smoke spread throughout the school, causing more than $100,000 in damage.
Students and faculty were evacuated and spent the day at Madison Junior High.
Crews as large as 100 workers at a time spent the weekend after the fire cleaning the entire school, including ducts and carpets, so students could return the following Monday.
The exact cost of the damages is not yet known. The district has an $2,500 insurance deductible, according to Melea Smith, director of communications.
Principal Nick Micensky told Scott families in a Talk203 e-mail message Thursday evening that police had identified the student who started the fire and said officials are "very saddened by these findings." He asked the school community to respect the privacy of the student involved.
"We urge people to trust that District 203 officials are taking appropriate measures to both support this family and protect the students and staff at Scott School," he said in the e-mail.
Smith said discipline is included in those measures, but would not elaborate.
Melanie Raczkiewicz, associate superintendent for operations, referred questions to the school district's attorney who was not available for comment Wednesday evening.
Students of staff whose personal property was damaged due to the smoke or fire can report the loss to the school at (630) 420-6477. Reports are due Friday, Dec. 18.