Havre Public Schools issues statement on high school vandalism

Havre Public Schools issued a statement Wednesday afternoon on an issue - apparently a senior prank gone overboard - that has created a firestorm of Facebook comments on the Havre Daily News Facebook page.

Havre Police Department reported Wednesday that a group of 30 or more Havre High School seniors had entered the school and while they were there a significant amount of vandalism occurred, with the estimated damage Wednesday morning at $1,000 to $2,000.

Havre Public Schools said in its statement that the damage was not a harmless prank and the people involved would face consequences.

Some people commenting on the story on Facebook said the seniors being in the high school was pre-approved and numerous posts went back and forth on the damage or if any damage occurred.

But the district statement, signed Havre High Administration and Staff, said what happened was not harmless.

"On May 24, 2021 a group of students from the Havre High School Class of 2021 made the poor decision to deface the hallways and bathrooms of the school as part of a 'senior prank,'" the statement said. "While it is understood that Senior Pranks can be fun a way for the graduating class to finish their time in the public school system, what happened that night went way past the boundary of being a harmless prank."

Havre Police Capt. Aaron Wittmer said Wednesday that suspects spent about 90 minutes in the building throwing toilet paper and paper towels around, plugging toilets and clogging drains with cereal.

He also said plumbers found watermelon and other fruit stuffed into the plumbing system.

He said the suspects also stacked more than 50 tires in front of the school's main entrance.

Wittmer said most if not all of the suspects, who were caught on security cameras - the suspects smeared some of the cameras - have been identified.

He said it will be up to the school district to press charges, which could include felony counts of burglary and, if the damage exceeds $1,500, felony counts of criminal mischief as well.

The statement said the district will consider filing charges.

"In light of this situation, the Havre High administration will be issuing consequences to all students involved," it said. "While we cannot discuss specifically what those will be, it will involve community service hours and we will be working in consultation with the Havre Police Department for potential charges as well. We are saddened that students who make up all facets of Havre High: Honor Society Members, Student Council Elected Officials, Athletes, and many others chose to represent themselves as they did that night."

The district reiterated that what happened in the school went beyond fun.

"What could have ultimately been a fairly harmless prank - toilet paper and streamers in the hallways - took a horrible turn," the statement said. "These students put many people in potential danger and caused additional work for hardworking individuals at our school."

The statement also said the actions went against what the school tries to instill in its students.

"At Havre High, we ask that our students have Pony Pride and do so by Being Safe, Being Responsible, Being Respectful, and Being Educated," it said. "The actions by the students participating that night do not exemplify any of these actions. We are disappointed in them and the lasting image that they chose to leave of the Class of 2021."

"We would also like to apologize to the Havre community, who we know takes such pride in this building and what our school stands for," the statement concluded. "In no way do we condone the actions of the students involved, and hope they also realize the tarnished reputation left for all members of the Class of 2021 because of their 'prank.'"