On Tuesday night, the Cape Elizabeth School Board voted unanimously to expel two students charged with vandalizing the middle school in early December.

School Board Chair Elaine Moloney said the board voted to expel the students after discussing the matter in separate closed sessions.

The names of the students expelled were not released by the school department.

The students can petition the superintendent for re-admittance during the current school year. A return to school is conditional upon meeting expectations set by the superintendent, said Moloney.

Cape Superintendent Alan Hawkins did not return calls seeking comment for this story by press time.

Moloney said she would welcome either student back if they met the conditions of a plan outlined by the superintendent. “It pains me… we want more than anything to have each child be successful,” said Moloney.

The middle school was vandalized in early December. The vandals stole musical instruments, drew swastikas in the girls bathroom and opened/damaged 80 plus lockers.

On Jan. 5, Cape Elizabeth police summoned two Cape high school males aged 16 and 17 for the vandalism after receiving a tip from a parent. All reported stolen property was recovered including school owned music instruments. Police said the boys are scheduled to appear in court March 2 facing felony charges of theft and burglary.

Cape High School Principal Jeffrey Shedd recommended expelling the students because of the severity of the crime, he said. He said the crimes compromised the school’s sense of security. “Students should have a right to feel safe in their school, he said.”

Shedd said the expulsion will hopefully “contribute to them getting some help.”

Shedd declined to say if the school would provide tutoring for the students, referring that question to Hawkins.

Teacher Rachel Guthrie had both students in her classes. She said both students had exhibited good potential. Remaining in school could benefit them both, she said. “This is the environment that would be most nurturing,” she said.

Senior Liam O’Shea said he knew the kids from class, though not very well. “They kept to themselves,” he said.

O’Shea said they sometimes partook in general “teenage mischief” but nothing that physically harmed anybody. “They’re not bad kids,” he said.

O’Shea conceded that he didn’t know much of them outside of school but theorized, “they might have stuff going on (at home) that nobody knows about.”

Expulsions aren’t necessarily permanent. It’s a common misconception that when a student is expelled, they never return to school, said Shedd. A principal can suspend a student for up to 10 days. Anything longer than that is bumped up to an expulsion and must be approved by the school board. However, expulsions are far less common than suspensions.

Shedd said the only other student he’s expelled was in his first year as principal – five years ago. “We don’t lightly expel,” said Shedd, “we don’t take any joy in doing it.”

Jeff Shedd