The Surrey Board of Education needs to take a serious look at ways to cut a $871,224 vandalism expenditure from its yearly financial report. I realize this figure tends to get lost in the columns of six-, seven-, and eight-figure items, but let’s not lose perspective of this humongous waste of taxpayers’ money.

With graffiti costs of $162,338, glass costs of $189,058 and other costs of $519,826 (which includes metal theft), something needs to be done to prevent these figures from showing up on next year’s financials.

So what crime-prevention initiatives should Surrey put into place to avoid such occurrences? The first step might be installing high-wattage pole lighting around the perimeter of schools. Vandals hate light and if they are foolish enough to vandalize a school under this light, they will surely run the risk of getting caught.

The next step would be to incorporate a Vandal Watch Program similar to the one Coquitlam incorporated a few years ago. This anti-vandalism program celebrated phenomenal success within a year of its initial introduction.

Test sites showed an 80-92 per cent reduction in broken glass. One school went from spending $5,600 to replace broken glass during a six-month period to only $470 in the six months following the introduction of Vandal Watch.

Of course the effectiveness of this program stems from active community involvement. Citizens would be encouraged to form Vandal Watch chapters. Upon joining the program, participating residents are provided with a confidential anonymous line and encouraged to use it when reporting vandalism problems.

The success of the Vandal Watch program depends on two criteria: the direct involvement of the community and the fast action of the tipster.

Once the violation has been reported, Vandal Watch Security Runners are immediately dispatched to the problem area. Once there, they can evaluate the seriousness of the problem and if needed will call local police for assistance.

Perhaps the amalgamation of a Vandal Watch Program and an Anti-Vandalism Task Force could produce a lethal weapon against stealthy vandals. An Anti-Vandalism Task Force could be made up of representatives of citizens on patrol, principals and vice-principle associations, District Parent Advisory Councils, the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the City of Surrey, parks and leisure services, Surrey RCMP and the Surrey Fire Department.

This task force, in co-operation with the Vandal Watch Program and Surrey Crime Prevention coordinators, community policing committees and TransLink’s anti-graffiti program would develop a comprehensive strategy focusing on the mobilization of the school communities and their neighbours for the protection of all.

One thing’s for sure, if we don’t crack down on school vandalism now, our pocketbooks will be a little thinner next year.

Visit Frank Fourchalk’s website at www.yourhome

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