Do you have a vandalism problem in your - ubcm.ca2011... · 4 Our Board believes that vandalism is not just a school problem. It is a community problem and requires a community solution

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  Do you have a vandalism problem in your district?

  How would you know if you did or did not?   Do you know how many acts of vandalism occur

at your schools daily/monthly/annually?   Do you know the extent and nature of internal

vandalism in your schools?   Does your district keep track of both direct and

indirect costs?

 $500,000 -Exterior Vandalism: $400,000 -Interior Vandalism: $100,000 (including willful damage to textbooks)

 Equivalent of salaries for six extra teachers

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  Harms the learning environment

  Creates fear in students

  Demoralizes staff and parents

  Based on this information, the Board decided it was time to take action

  The Board is uniquely positioned to lead a community vandalism prevention initiative.

  School properties are a magnet for vandalism   The Board is the largest property owner in the

community with schools located throughout the community

  It has well established relationships with numerous community groups and organizations

  It has direct access to the young people in the community

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  Our Board believes that vandalism is not just a school problem. It is a community problem and requires a community solution

  The Board set up a community based Anti-Vandalism Task Force including two trustees, one serving as chair

  RCMP"  Citizens on Patrol"  Principals' and Vice-

Principals' Association"  District Student

Advisory Council"  District Parent Advisory

Council"  Canadian Union of

Public Employees"

  Corporation of the District of Maple Ridge"

  Corporation of the District of Pitt Meadows"

  Parks and Leisure Services"

  Maple Ridge Fire Department "

  Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows Times Newspaper"

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  Reviewed their practices and strategies and inventoried their resources

  Consulted student representatives   Learned that much was being done, but better

organization, coordination and communication was needed

  Found that vandalism is a symptom of a disengaged community

  Vandalism viewed as a cost of doing business

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  The program was launched at a major public event - Unveiled logo - Distributed public poster (many still on display today) - Announced 24 hour hotline (which serves as nerve centre of response and tracking system and as a community engagement tool)

  Supported by media relations program

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  School District and Parks and Leisure Services share vandalism hotline and security response system. -Hotline calls go to 24-hour answering service which first dispatches a security runner. -Security calls RCMP, if required. Citizens on Patrol responds to hotline calls Friday and Saturday nights

  Vandalism incidents communicated daily to key partner groups, including media

 The District of Maple Ridge has adopted a bylaw requiring property owners to remove graffiti in a timely fashion.

 School District participates in Youth Diversion Programs

 The Times Newspaper supports the public awareness campaign

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  All schools provided with Vandalism Prevention “tools”: -Posters -Logos -Fridge magnets -Key tags -Student discussion guides -Water bottles

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  Other school strategies: -Murals -Presentations at student assemblies -Poster contests -Regular updates in newsletters -Covering text books -Program information in student calendars

  School-based and district-wide student “Respect” events

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  Schools distribute fridge magnets and key tags to school neighbours

  Neighbours invited to vandalism prevention meetings/events

  Vandalism Alerts distributed to neighbours to report serious vandalism incidents

  Information letters mailed to school and park neighbours

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  Extra lighting   Window shutters   Improve neighbour sightlines to

school   Fencing   Magnetic gate locks   Climbing barriers   Real-time web camera surveillance

Still camera with flash and audio warning system

  “The Mosquito” noise deterrent system

  Vandal Soak water deterrent system

  These measures are investments and will pay for themselves many times over.

  However, physical deterrents are only part of the answer

  The keys to success are partnership building, school/community engagement and raising socially responsible citizens.

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  We keep track of vandalism by type, school and date

  Data tell us were to focus our efforts and how successful we are

  Our data told us Glenwood Elementary had a significant vandalism problem

  Task force reps. met with principal and PAC to identify causes and solutions -Neighbourhood demographics an issue -Neighbours lacked a sense of school ownership -School grounds a natural pedestrian corridor -Loitering and drug use at back of school -Unused portable and brush blocking neighbours view of school

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  School and Community Engagement -School provided with posters, water bottles, fridge magnets, key tags, etc. -Students, teachers, parents created a mural -Neighbours received fridge magnets and key tags at an “unveiling” event

  Physical Deterrents -Window shutters and vandal panels installed -Vandal Soak installed -Unused portable removed -Brush cleared -Perimeter fence heightened -Fence gate with magnetic lock installed -Lighting increased

  The Results: -Vandalism incidents drop to 12 from 35 the previous year

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  Community aware and increasingly engaged   Partnerships strengthened and expanded   School communities/neighbours sensitized and

mobilized   Vandalism incidents are declining   Growing public awareness of vandalism problem

at local, provincial and national level because of media interest in our work

  Many calls from other organizations

  Presentation available on DVD   Any Questions/Comments