Kansas City high school postpones graduation after vandalism

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) - A private high school in Kansas City, Kansas, decided to postpone graduation after the building was vandalized.

Bishop Ward High School and Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas, confirmed the vandalism took place on May 7.

According to a statement from police, a group of people gained access to the school after hours. Investigators said they vandalized several interior areas, causing damage. The amount of damage remains under investigation.

Police are working to identify anyone involved in the incident, according to a statement.

The school’s board of trustees and the Archdiocese decided to postpone commencement until the police finish investigating the vandalism.

The investigation remains open and the school did not elaborate on the damage or extent of the vandalism.

Parents of seniors who attend Bishop Ward High School turned to social media to voice frustrations over the decision.

Alexcia Gonzales, whose son is a senior at Bishop Ward, said she talked to her son to learn more about what happened.

“The seniors pulled a prank. They destroyed several classrooms. They upturned tables, threw eggs, ripped up textbooks, threw them down the stairs. And they destroyed brand new furniture in their resource center,” Gonzales said.

Graduation was scheduled for Tuesday.

Senior parents received an email from the school acknowledging the move was disappointing. The email said in part, “given the scope and seriousness of the incident, we believe it is necessary to allow the investigation to proceed fully and fairly before moving forward with commencement activities.”

“It’s so devastating,” Gonzales said. “My son worked so hard for this. And it’s like he made it to the finish line and then there’s nothing. No ceremony.”

Gonzales said her son had nothing to do with the vandalism. She said families had to cancel plans for the ceremony.

“We had to tell our family and friends, like, ‘Hey, don’t come. There’s no ceremony,’” she said.

Gonzales had a message for the families of those who vandalized the school.

“I just hope that the parents of those students that know, that actually did it, that they encourage their kid to come forward. Because they ruined it for everybody,” she said.

A spokesperson for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas said classes were canceled again Monday but will resume Tuesday. It is unclear when or if graduation will be rescheduled.