Vandals broke into the school on Gilmour Street, Kelso last weekend, causing an estimated $200,000 in damage as they smashed their way through 13 classrooms.

In the wake of the break in, the Department of Education and Communities announced the installation of CCTV cameras and a back-to-base alarm system as an urgent priority, however, no mention has been made of security fencing.

While she welcomed news of the security upgrade, Kelso Public School parent and P and C member Kristeena Conway said the school also needed security fencing.

She said the latest break in at the school had devastated the students’ sense of safety and security at the school. 

“That has been taken away from them. The children should be outraged that their school, a place of safety and nurturing, has been violated, but I’m worried because it happens so often it’s almost become normal to them, they are almost desensitised to it, ” she said. 

Ms Conway said parents at the school had fought “tooth and nail” to get the Department to do something to upgrade the school’s security and were very angry it had taken something like this for them to swing into action.

“It’s great we’re getting CCTV and back-to-base alarms,” she said. 

“With CCTV there is a greater chance of prosecuting these people, and that’s what we want. 

“We want this to stop. Someone needs to be made accountable, this can’t keep happening. But at least something is being done now and we don’t feel like we’re being overlooked.

“Up until now the Department has said the school is low risk ... well, they are back pedalling now.

“We still want to see a fence installed. The back of the school has nothing to stop someone coming onto the grounds and snatching a child.

“The school also has special needs children who could wander away off the school grounds.”

Angelina McManus is another parent pleased to see the school finally getting increased security.

Her five-year-old son, Cody, had his pillow pet slashed open and its eyes cut out by the vandals.

Ms McManus said he was, obviously, very upset.

She said the school has been broken into so many times she won’t allow her son to leave his prescription reading glasses there overnight.

“They come home with us every afternoon because I’m scared they will get stolen,” she said.

For 10-year-old student Phoebe Brownbridge, the weekend’s destruction was equally distressing.

“All our pencil cases were cut open and now we don’t have a smart board,” she said.

“They ripped up all our school books so we have to do all our work all over again.”

she was worried the vandals “gave the school a bad name”.

“It just keeps on happening and happening,”she said.

Anyone with information on the break in should call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.