Damage to property

The Infinite Fart

Does anyone have any advice on damage to personal property on school grounds? It has become nearly an annual occurance where leaving cert students from another school in the area come into the school grounds during class time to egg and flour teacher's cars. These students may or may not be wearing uniforms and seem to cover their faces but are identifiable to some. It has happened before where teachers have had several hundred Euro worth of damage done to the paintwork and have ended up footing the bill themselves or have just been left with a damaged car. In fairness to the school they ring the guards and do try to clean the cars with a bit of water but in some cases the damage is already done and by the time the guards arrive the students are gone. If we go through our own insurance, there's an excess to pay of a few hundred and plus premium increases the following year. The school haven't covered it through their insurance in the past, in spite of the fact that they haven't really provided a secure parking area for staff. It's just been kind of brushed under the carpet. Has anyone had any experience of this before and how did they deal with it?

mtoutlemonde

The Infinite Fart wrote: »

Does anyone have any advice on damage to personal property on school grounds? It has become nearly an annual occurance where leaving cert students from another school in the area come into the school grounds during class time to egg and flour teacher's cars. These students may or may not be wearing uniforms and seem to cover their faces but are identifiable to some. It has happened before where teachers have had several hundred Euro worth of damage done to the paintwork and have ended up footing the bill themselves or have just been left with a damaged car. In fairness to the school they ring the guards and do try to clean the cars with a bit of water but in some cases the damage is already done and by the time the guards arrive the students are gone. If we go through our own insurance, there's an excess to pay of a few hundred and plus premium increases the following year. The school haven't covered it through their insurance in the past, in spite of the fact that they haven't really provided a secure parking area for staff. It's just been kind of brushed under the carpet. Has anyone had any experience of this before and how did they deal with it?

Never experienced this thankfully and have worked in many schools. Can the car park be supervised as part of lunch duty? Can the school not secure the car park i.e. fob entry etc. Has your principal contacted the neighbouring school telling him/her that some of their students have been identified causing malicious damage to staff property and that the Gardaí have been informed? Any principal wouldn't want their school to get a bad name.

The Infinite Fart

mtoutlemonde wrote: »

Never experienced this thankfully and have worked in many schools. Can the car park be supervised as part of lunch duty? Can the school not secure the car park i.e. fob entry etc. Has your principal contacted the neighbouring school telling him/her that some of their students have been identified causing malicious damage to staff property and that the Gardaí have been informed? Any principal wouldn't want their school to get a bad name.

Unfortunately when this happens the kids from the other school are probably dossing plus their lunch time is different to ours so they come at times other than lunch. If they are spotted they're chased out pretty quickly but some damage is already done! Totally agree with fob idea. Have seen it work brilliantly in other school so may suggest it, though I think we may have been told its very expensive in the past. School has been contacted other years and I think students have got in trouble alright but nothing has ever came out of it really for the teachers who have had cars damaged. Guards also called but students have been gone when they have arrived. It's just so frustrating!!! Thanks for ideas!

happywithlife

Disgraceful carry on. Happened someone I know but in a more innocent context in that the students genuinely didn't know the egg would dry in and strip the paint of the car. It was only one car though and I think school covered it.
I think given the inaction of management in the past I'd be asking for a strongly worded letter to go to board of management asking them to outline preventative steps they are taking to secure the car park and if possible I would try to seek alternative arrangements for a few days around the usual suspect time - can some of you car pool to reduce amount of cars in car park maybe? Park elsewhere ? Get public transport? I know you shouldn't have to and it's a complete inconvenience but then again if it saves you the hassle of dealing with the aftermath I think I'd do it if it were feasible

evolving_doors

Capture on video
Stick it on YouTube
Shame the offending school into action.

The other school letting pupils out should be taking action. I remember when there was shenanigans going on in my school the 6th years were told to make lunch at home and stay in school and eat it, teacher supervision was upped and careful record kept of who left for a 'dentist appointment' and what time.

If the offending pupils are wearing a school uniform then they are representing the school. By right the other school should be responsible if they are in loco parentis and failing at that.

Ok maybe don't put it on YouTube.

r93kaey5p2izun

Yes this has been a problem in my school with our own students. The school's response is that you park at your own risk so tough luck. Extensive CCTV is available but you have to go to the gardai and possibly through your solicitor to get access to it to get incidents followed up. Our school grounds are open to the public and used as a shortcut.

The Infinite Fart

Hailey Limited Tramp wrote: »

Yes this has been a problem in my school with our own students. The school's response is that you park at your own risk so tough luck. Extensive CCTV is available buy you have to go to the gardai and possibly through your solicitor to get access to it to get incidents followed up. Our school grounds are open to the public and used as a shortcut.

That sounds horrific. I would hope that the students are punished severely and held accountable. Surely there is a huge potential safety issue for the kids if anyone can just wander in.

r93kaey5p2izun

The Infinite Fart wrote: »

That sounds horrific. I would hope that the students are punished severely and held accountable. Surely there is a huge potential safety issue for the kids if anyone can just wander in.

The students only access secure areas during the school day. Nobody has ever been held accountable for damage except when dealt with by the gardai when a teacher pursued it, and no punishments have ever been given by the school or the justice system. Cars have been keyed, sprayed with corrosive, windows smashed, mirrors broken and hubcaps stolen. All but a handful of teachers live 50+ miles away so public transport isn't really an option and there's no alternative parking any safer as the school is surrounded by masses of council estates.

2xj3hplqgsbkym

In our school we sign an insurance form at beginning of school year for cars that will be parked on the property , I presume that covers us in such circumstances.
It's probably something to bring to your BOM if they won't cover insurance for your car.

RealJohn

Is there not something through the unions to cover damage to cars during school related activities or is that only if you get your car insurance through the union’s broker?

Glass fused light

Assuming that the student are from other schools. Would all the schools in the area be willing to send a notification to the parents and students that any student found to have participated in such an attack may be subject to disiplinary action and could be excluded from using their school facilities to sit their exams?
I know that it may not be possible for the schools to actually do anything but may make the parents and students realise that the 'fun' tradition could directly impact their exams.
And that each school could fully support the investigation by actively monitoring students who leave school grounds be betweem now and end of term.

The Infinite Fart

RealJohn wrote: »

Is there not something through the unions to cover damage to cars during school related activities or is that only if you get your car insurance through the union’s broker?

I think it's if you have cornmarket insurance you're covered for damage to cars on school grounds if you're parked in a designated parking spot. You still have to pay an excess and probably an increased premium the following year. Could take the sting out a bit I suppose. Worth looking in to though! School insurance doesn't cover anything in relation to teacher's private property unfortunately so school can wash their hands of it.