Vandals have targeted Gorham Middle School three times in recent months, leaving taxpayers responsible for the biggest chunk of repair bills.

Paul Kelly, school department business manager, said this week that vandals in June, July and September have accounted for about $5,000 in damages at the school. Although the school department has insurance, it has a $1,000 deductible policy for each incident.

That means the taxpayers are stuck paying $3,000 for damages in the combined incidents. The money for repairs will come from the school department’s maintenance budget. Kelly said not all the costs have been tallied yet.

Windows were shot out in all three incidents, causing the majority of the damage. Kelly said vandals apparently used either a BB or pellet gun.

In the most recent case, the middle school was targeted over the weekend of Sept. 16 and 17.

Gorham Middle School is off Weeks Road, in a residential area.

Jim Hager, chairman of the school committee, reported to the Gorham Town Council last week that vandals were “far more aggressive” in the latest incident. Entering through a window, the intruders broke into the three-year-old school for the first time.

Inside the band room, all of the percussion drumheads were slashed. Outside the school, Hager said, a soccer net was destroyed and a small, oak tree was chopped down.

School officials are tightening security and asking neighbors for help. “Mr. Kelly has solicited bids for new security equipment – including video cameras – for areas that are out of sight,” Hager said in his report to the council.

Hager said it’s obvious to him that parents aren’t aware of “where their children are or what destructive activities they are involved in.”

Cutline (GOR middle school 1)