By Michael de Moura
At 4:00 A.M. on September the 11th, two men broke into Homer High School through the roof. Security cameras in the hallways managed to provide stills, or pictures provided by videos. The stills obtained were too blurry to identify the perpetrators beyond a vague physical description: the two male intruders were wearing ski masks and head lamps..
Incentives for this unusual crime remain a mystery. Nothing went missing, but school property was damaged. Areas of plaster ceiling were in dire need of repair. One of the intruders fell through a section of the ceiling near The Cage in Senior Hallway, destroying layers of plaster. In Freshman Hallway, a table was found in disarray, splintered under the weight of trespassers.
Although damages inflicted and messes created were insubstantial, the masked men still committed a crime. Students who have any information, concerning the break-in, are encouraged to report to Doctor Gee or other members of the faculty. Future vandalism and intrusions may not be committed so easily, even skipping school will prove a far larger challenge once the new cameras are installed.
Over the past year, Homer High’s administration have been beefing up security protocols. Beginning with last year’s spring semester, the school commons now officially close, along with the hallways, at 4:30. Also newly required parking permits aid our school’s faculty. Any anomalous vehicles or figures are confronted by the administrative staff, reconciling unfamiliar faces promptly. New rules and regulations promote a safer environment for students, ensuring parents in the process.
Doctor Gee stated that Homer High’s two biggest concerns are ‘security and safety’. As for preventing trespassing in the future, the school is currently ordering motion sensing security cameras. The new cameras, detect any movement and proceed to follow the moving figure. Ted Stevens Airport in Anchorage has the same model of security cameras. Doctor Gee has been struggling to “make sure it’s safe for students” with the help of vice principal Mr. Waclafsy. While allowing guests and students to enjoy the campus, with proper supervision of course.