If all of these young men live at home the parents need to be involved as well. Where did their parenting go astray to allow any of these teens to think this is OK? These incidents are tantamount to admitting a failure of parenting. These kids should have had it built into their tiny brains that vandalism of any building is just wrong and not permissible. When that piece is missing one knows for sure what happened.

Forgot to tell her? You have to be kidding me. That's like forgetting to tell a business owner that they have been robbed. She had the right to know. Go after these kids especially if they are local kids. Teach them before it's too late . Then again, looks like it's too late.

Wow Bill...OUCH! Who are you to judge those parents? These kids are responsible for their actions and should be held accountable. I am sure the parents of these teens will suffer enough without the criticism of the community. Lets try not to cast the first stone. Do you know anyone who has had a child be rebellious? If so then you have seen the pain that has caused. I know first hand the pain involved in seeing a teen rebel against all of the years of good parenting. Years of trying to do the best but coming up feeling like a failure. I am sorry for the parents. The teens need to be held responsible.

well said Bill ...

It's interesting that this is fussed about so much when, during the last week of school, Monte Vista was severely vandalized - there was sexually suggestive graffiti over much of the school that had to be covered during the school day until it could be scrubbed away/painted over. Is this event glossed over because it was just dubbed a "senior prank?" I highly doubt the two incidents are directly linked (probably different vandals) but I don't see why they should be treated so differently. What good are all of the cameras on the Monte Vista campus if they don't do what they're there for?

And frankly, tagging isn't the worst thing kids can be doing these days. It's not like they're physically abusing teachers or burning down buildings. It's PAINT.

Bill, you obviously live in a fairy tale world. Kids will be kids no matter the parents. Just be grateful that this small event may be what changes the kids course of life as opposed to them doing something more serious and it changing them for the worse permanently. On the roof of a school with spraypaint? I wish that some of the kids would pick up spraypaint rather than a gun.

Chrisie,

The incident that happened at Monte Vista is a separate event. It was a senior Prank and frankly Monte Vista has been covering up anything and everything that happens at that school. The cameras don't work there because they don't want to get them fixed!!!
So you think it's okay to let these kids tag our community, as long as they are not abusing
us and/ or burning down our buildings???

Dear Neighbor in defense of Chrisie:

I highly doubt she is saying that spray painting buildings is not a crime nor do I feel she is condoning this type of behavior, but it's you typcial, sheltered people that fail to see the big picture as compared to what is happening in the real world. You have kids during a summer break that got caught on the roof of a school with spray paint. BIG DEAL. Why don't your try leaving the 680 corridor every once in awhile and see what kids in other towns are doing with their free time. I'm sure it involves more than a spray paint.

Lets try to remember this is Los Cerros not Columbine.

I thought it was interesting that three of the four were described as "adult teenagers". I take this to mean that in the eyes of the law they are adults, which I think means that they are 18 or 19. Which makes it even more disappointing that they would be doing something so stupid as trying to break into Los Cerros.

I have to admit to climbing up on the roof of an elementary school, back when I was Jr. High age. I had been hitting tennis balls against the brick back wall of the school (basically playing "tennis solitaire), and accidentally lofted a ball onto the roof. I climbed up on the roof (via a dumpster and then shinnying up a downspout). I was just about to start heading down when the custodian (this was over the summer, so the school was basically empty) came out and yelled at me. This being 40 or so years ago, he was content with yelling at me and hearing my explanation and apology. Nowadays I'd probably have been arrested, even if my intentions were strictly to retrieve a ball....

Dear Joe
I do happen to live in the real world. I work for the Oakland PD
So excuse me I'm tired of everyone making excuses for the kids today.
FYI - this maybe the only thing they have gotten caught doing!!
We all need to be responsible for our community.

A few observations:
1. Adult teenagers are adults. Period. The writing, once again, is terrible.
2. Spray paint or theft or whatever of school property (or any property) is a crime. Chrisie is obviously a "friend" of the delinquents and is trying to stick up for their shenanigans.
3. Every time misbehavior like this is excused or downplayed-it lowers our societal threshold of what's OK or not in terms of behavior. Keep it simple. They were trespassing with criminal intentions (vandalism is a crime).

Prosecute them so their stupidity can be tracked. The adults can expunge their record in a few years. Maybe they'll grow up in that time.

Contrast this with the other story "Three SRVUSD students honored at State Capitol" ... solid, responsible parenting or lack thereof played a huge role on how the two sets turned out.

Let our kids take the credit or responsibility for their own actions!

I agree with Bill and Joe. I always put the best foot forward in knowing where my teen is, what he is doing and who he is with. An occasional verification keeps me feeling confident, and yes, parental guidance and discipline are most important. I strongly believe that if parents were held responsible for violations and crimes (even vandalism can turn into a bigger crime as time marches on), then we would see much less offences from youth. Know your kids and what/where/when...

I agree with Bill I think goes back to the type of parenting they've had and the influence of peers as a secondary cause.
If these boys have gotten a sufficient amount of good parenting I think they will learn from the experience and move on if not they may have this problem and that problem for years to come hope not

I think Bill and Steve probably dont have kids and if they do they are clueless about their own. Kids do dumb things all the time and learn hard lessons. We cant judge these parents or these kids, we dont even know who they are.

Knowing a number of public school teachers, it would not be surprising if the parents defended their urchins and have already lawyered-up. In Redwood City which is one of the worst school districts in Northern California, hunting the teachers is the common game.
A few months ago the entitled brat who called 911 on her math teacher was rewarded by being moved to another school while the teacher was hung out to dry. He had banged on a desk to get her attention. Another was hunted because he got a kid to admit he had previously lied about the teacher to his psycho mommy.

I actually taught in Redwood City so I can confirm what John posted. Why the state hasn't looked into them is amazing. A teacher openly admitted cheating on the state test last year in math but was merely given a different school. Yet a great veteran teacher was hunted like a dog on the "word" of a dysfunctional kid and mommy. The kid admitted on tape to another kid he made everything up but RCSD didn't care. They were going to pull her medical coverage via a "dismissal" vs "retirement"....she was facing life threatening surgery. They failed in their attempt. State needs to clean that house.

What a great story. I hope those kids get caught and suffer some consequences.

P.S. this is some good writing :)

I have watched my 3 children go through Los Cerros and this is what I have to sat.

Let's look at the big picture here, 4 kids were bored the week after school got out and climbed up on the roof of a school. BIG DEAL, would you rather have them getting drunk or smoking weed. And anyway, if the school really cared about it, they would lock the "hatch." Also, if you read the police report the area in which they were planning on entering only contained air ducts and insulation. It isn't like they could have or would have even been able to steal anything. 

First off, the grammar and spelling used in some of these posts is quite disturbing: People, try proof-reading your material before you send it in!

Secondly,...if the "kids" were only found 'ON' the roof, a slap on the wrist might be in order.

BUT! They were found with spray-paint cans, and that tells me they were out to do destructive vandalism. Who pays for this, once done? WE DO!

Charge them. Fine them. Community service for each one of them (maybe cleaning up graffiti?). My dad taught me at a very early age, that "everything you do in life, has consequences!" Time for these "kids" to learn this important lesson (..and if the parents have to 'pony-up' the fine money, time for THEM to learn, as well!)