Surly's Soap Box

Vandals broke into Oltman Junior High School in St. Paul Park early Sunday and trashed five classrooms, pouring paint on computers, spray-painting walls and smashing electronics. Early estimates put the damage at about $100,000.

Two students — a 13- and a 15-year-old boy — were arrested Monday in connection with the damage. The teenagers had just finished eighth and ninth grades, respectively, at the school.

St. Paul Park Police Chief Mike Monahan said the intruders broke a window to enter the school's art room, where they obtained paint supplies. Inside, they spray-painted walls, including with obscenities; dumped paint on computers; discharged fire extinguishers; smashed VCRs and phones; and threw at least one overhead projector to the floor.

"They just trashed the rooms," Monahan said. "It was every color of the rainbow."

Someone also smashed the glass of a vending machine and stole candy.

Barbara Brown, communications director for South Washington County Schools, said about five rooms and nearby hallways were vandalized.

Monahan said one of the boys who was apprehended recently had a dispute with a teacher on or near the last day of school, which was June 1.

"There may have been a revenge issue here," he said.

A fire alarm alerted authorities to the break-in about 4:15 a.m. Sunday. Monahan said particles from the fire extinguishers might have set off the smoke detectors.

The damage to equipment was worth about $28,000, with the rest of the cost expected to come from replacing the vending machine and repairing rooms and hallways damaged by the paint and contents from the fire extinguisher, school officials said.

Brown said it's unclear how long it will take to clean up the school. Some summer school classes started Monday, she said, but they went on uninterrupted.

The students involved could face disciplinary action from the school district, Brown said.

"These are definitely grounds for expulsions in our district," she said.