Vandals Strike New Avery School With Graffiti

Dedham Police are working with school and town officials to investigate a brash strike by vandals late last week at the site of the new Avery Elementary School.

Police were informed Saturday that several areas of the construction site were vandalized. Officials estimate as many as 20 spray paint markings were put on fences, sidewalks and playground equipment.

New graffiti was also found on a fence on the outside of Dedham High School near the construction site.

Selectman Michael Butler, who chairs the committee overseeing the project, and school's superintendent June Doe were mum Monday evening about the incident, both citing the ongoing investigation.

Doe called the vandalism "disappointing" and "upsetting" minutes after Monday evening's School Building Rehabilitation Committee discussed how the project was winding down and moving toward opening the school in April.

Construction crews are working to formulate just how to get rid of the graffiti. 

Todd McCabe, of Consigli Construction, said crews might have to replace some of the material that was spray painted due to the type of paint used and the type of surface it was on.

"We have to go through a couple different processes before we can remove the material," McCabe said at Monday's meeting.

The cost of damage done by vandals on the site will fall on Consigli, who will make a claim against a town-bought insurance policy.

Doe and the school department will weigh the options on the high school's vandalized fence, which uses an explicative.

Butler declined to elaborate on security plans for the construction site.