Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
- Vandals caused significant damage to the newly constructed Roosevelt Elementary School in Washington Terrace, Weber County.
- Weber School District offers $500 reward for information leading to vandals' arrest.
WASHINGTON TERRACE, Weber County — For many parents, word that a group of vandals broke into the new Roosevelt Elementary School, causing thousands of dollars in damage is disappointing.
"It made me upset because I don't want it to interfere with the new school year," parent Amanda Judd said. "I hope that they're caught, and I hope that they're punished, because it's just upsetting."
Weber School District spokesman Lane Findlay said the group captured on surveillance images at the school, 190 W. 5100 South, left a large amount of spray paint tagging, which cost thousands of dollars to repaint and remove. Still, he said the school remains on schedule to open this fall.
The school district is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the conviction of those responsible.
The old Roosevelt Elementary was built in 1957, opening to a capacity of about 200. It did not have air conditioning, which was among the reasons parents told KSL that they were looking forward to the new building. Several told KSL off-camera that the vandalism was disheartening and disappointing.
Over the past school year, students at the school were divided up into four surrounding schools by grade. Judd said her kids were divided between two schools, though some had to deal with more.
"It was hard," Judd said. "This last school year was crazy."
Construction of the new Roosevelt Elementary is estimated at around $46 million and was part of a bond vote passed by voters in 2021.
