SAN ANTONIO -- Recess period for students at Scobee Elementary School has been disrupted by vandals.
Someone destroyed portions of the school playground and burned the climbing toy, the “rock wall,” to the ground, leaving only support poles and metal screws.
The vandals then set fire to a nearby slide, turning it into a gooey mess.
Fifth-grader Sam Creswell said students are shocked.
“I was, to tell the truth, scared, because this is supposed to be a safe place for children K through fifth grade. And it saddens me to see it burnt down to ashes,” he said.
Scobee Elementary officials say the crime cost district taxpayers $10,000 and threatened neighbors, who thought the flames would leap the fence into their backyards.
The playground had just been upgraded during the summer and has always been open to the public, even on weekends. Northside ISD police say that's when the crime occurred.
School Principal Kathleen Gorsche said the real loss is felt by students.
“The only people who really are suffering are the children here. So, we were shocked,” Gorsche said.
