A Northeast Portland school that serves students who are homeless canceled classes last week after thieves damaged three of its four buses.

The thieves cut the gas lines of three Community Transitional School buses late Thursday night and returned to steal their gas, according to KPTV.

Classes were canceled Friday as a result, but the school’s transportation coordinator temporarily fixed the gas lines so the school could reopen, the news station reports. The buses will have to get permanent repairs over winter break, however.

Principal and teacher Cheryl Bickle told KPTV over 90% of the school’s students take buses, which pick them up from shelters or wherever they’re staying.

The school, which serves students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, has incurred similar damage before.

KPTV reports the fuel line on a bus was cut last month and a gas tank was punctured in February.

“So now we’re thinking that perhaps we need to build a secure building to house the buses,” Bickle told the news station.

-- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015

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