A beloved beacon of heritage for The Greenhouse School in Salem met an ignoble fate this Tuesday, as a group of high school-age vandals defaced a treasured school bus, according to authorities and school officials. The small, private school's directors reported the incident after their students discovered the damage upon returning from a bike trip, finding the once-revered vehicle marred by crude graffiti and shattered glass.
Caught on the school's security cameras, the four culprits carried out their brazen act in broad daylight, the footage revealing two boys and two girls who appeared to have targeted the retired bus—a fixture on the private school's property since its founding in 1983. Speaking to Boston 25 News, one of the school's directors, Dan Welch lamented the incident, "It’s just shocking to see kids act so brazen, right out in the open, in the middle of the day.”
The small bus holds significant sentimental value for the Greenhouse School community. Not just a vehicle, it is remembered fondly as having been driven by "Mr. Frank," the husband of school founder Patricia Jennings Welch. As reported by The Boston Globe, the school celebrated the contributions of "Mr. Frank," who passed away 25 years prior, with a special ceremony in 2020, denoting the deep roots the relic vehicular presence has in the educators' and pupils' hearts.
Salem Police were notified and have initiated an investigation into the matter. Despite the vandalism, school director Julia Nambalirwa-Lugudde struck a resilient note, remarking to The Boston Globe, "We were gardening outside, just a few feet from where this happened. Then we came in, ate lunch, and went on a bike trip, discovering the damage on our return." This occurred during a school-sanctioned "recreation week," an alternative to the traditional school vacation week when students engage in projects outside the classroom.
For now, the quest for the vandals remains as urgent as the Greenhouse School's commitment to restore the bus that signifies so much of their legacy. Welch voiced his intentions, telling Boston 25 News, "We have always intended to raise money to fix it up or put it to some other use. My Dad drove it, so it has some sentimental value." Concerned citizens with information on the vandalism are encouraged to contact the school or the Salem police department.
