Ten seniors accused of vandalizing Cape Elizabeth High School on March 23 returned to classes April 9, Principal Jeffrey Shedd said.

The School Board had originally voted to suspend the students for a total of 20 days during discipline hearings that began March 31, but later revised its motion to suspend the students for “up to” 20 days for being “deliberately disobedient.”

School officials have declined to comment on what aspect of the vandalism involved deliberate disobedience.

The students had been suspended 11 days when they were allowed to return to school.

Shedd said that if the students catch up with their work, they will be allowed to graduate with their class.

Police and school officials have not identified the students and they have not yet been charged with any crime. The Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office says it is reviewing the case.

Meanwhile, the cost of the vandalism, originally estimated at more than $10,000, continues to grow.

“It’s at least $14,000 and how much more, we’re waiting for one last bill for that,” Shedd said.

He said their students and their families will have to pay restitution to the district.

Officials say the 10 students gained access to the school late Sunday night, March 23, when one of them climbed in through an open window and unlocked a door. The school has no alarms, and the students disabled security video cameras with tape so they would not be identified.

They then allegedly emptied classrooms of furniture, stuffed furniture in bathroom stalls, removed and damaged ceiling tiles, smeared peanut butter on door knobs and wrote obscene and drug-related graffiti on the walls. The damage was discovered by a custodian Monday morning, March 24.

Police Chief Neil Williams said the perpetrators could face criminal mischief and criminal trespass charges.

Superintendent Alan Hawkins has not returned repeated daily telephone calls seeking comment.