29 students disciplined for senior prank

SANDPOINT — Graduation requirements for 29 Sandpoint High School seniors just got a little steeper.

They’re paying the price for a night of mischief last week that spiraled out of control. While senior pranks are common as graduation approaches, not all of them rack up $862.35 worth of damages and staff time. Caught on camera and identified, the pranksters will still walk at graduation if they complete 15 hours of community service and pay for the costs. They’ll also have to set up and remove equipment and decorations for the graduation ceremonies.

“The intent was not malicious,” Principal Becky Meyer said. “This was a high school prank that got out of control.”

Late at night last week, the group of seniors entered the high school illegally using keys taken from a school counselor’s desk. The students scrawled various messages on windows and doors, sprayed silly string, stuck umbrella garnishes into the ceiling and left Dixie cups filled with water in the lobby. Meyer said that no untoward urination occurred, contrary to previous reports. Instead, the students filled a kiddie pool with apple juice.

The vast majority of expenses centered on the additional custodial time required to clean up the mess, a whopping $713.35. The cleaning also required $49 in parts and supplies and $100 to replace two Sandpoint High School blankets. Between everyone, the costs amount to about $30 per person.

Although some seniors used hoods and masks to conceal their identities, school staff were able to make some identifications. According to Meyer and Lake Pend Oreille School District Superintendent Dick Cvitanich, every student counted on the video has been located.

“From what I understand, there were 29 students in the footage and 29 came forward,” Cvitanich said.   

After being busted, the students met with Cvitanich Wednesday to discuss their actions. School administrators and Sandpoint police agreed to let the students off without charges. In this case, Cvitanich said he and his colleagues preferred to handle the situation internally.

“I thought the students were very responsive to what we had to say to them,” Cvitanich said. “These were good kids and school leaders that just let themselves get out of control.”