May 07--The Banner School remained closed for a second day Tuesday as officials and cleanup crews tackled a fire-retardant chemical powder coating much of two buildings on campus.
Six or seven fire extinguishers were discharged in an act of vandalism between Saturday night and Sunday morning, according to Head of School Stephen Parnes.
"No one was hurt, no one was killed," Parnes said. "It's just malicious, senseless damage."
Banner was locked at about 8:45 p.m. Saturday after a middle school production of "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," Parnes said. A member of the school's Parents Organization found the vandalism at about 10:30 a.m. Sunday.
The extinguisher residue is confined to two of the school's three buildings: an early childhood education building and Botkin Hall, used for middle school classes and administrative offices. Parnes said damage is estimated at a minimum of $140,000, adding that the historic buildings were not otherwise harmed.
"Everything is coated ... from the top of the building down to the basement," Parnes said.
Furniture must be thrown away; carpet will be replaced. Computers and servers touched by chemical residue need to be removed and cleaned by hand or replaced altogether.
Professional cleaning crews expect to finish by the end of the week. Students will not be permitted in those buildings until a hygienic specialist has cleared them for occupancy, Parnes said.
The school will convert portable storage into classrooms until students and teachers can return to their buildings. Banner is expected to reopen today.
Parnes has no idea who was behind the vandalism or how they gained access to the building. Lt. Clark Pennington cited an ongoing Frederick Police Department investigation, adding that the crime also qualifies as burglary.
School vandalism occurs "very rarely ... once or twice a year," Pennington said.
Parnes could not say if the school uses security cameras, but "we're certainly going to have to do something if this is an act that was committed by someone locally."
"It clearly is an urban area."
Follow Rachel S. Karas on Twitter: @rachelkaras.
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