Tuesday, July 3 Update:

Anchorage Police have identified a suspect in the vandalism of Alpenglow Elementary School believed to have caused more than $100,000 dollars in damage.

According to APD, evidence gathered at the scene lead police to a male teenager believed to be responsible for the crime.

Charges have been forwarded to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

Original story

Alpenglow Elementary School in Eagle River has now been broken into and vandalized twice this year, and Anchorage School District officials say the money needed to repair the damage comes out of a reserve fund otherwise needed to improve the quality of the school.

"When you look at the damage, it's hard to believe that someone could intentionally do this with no remorse," said Anchorage School Board President Starr Marsett.

Marsett said the damage caused by the destructive act is irreparable, and the money needed to repair the damage will have to come from another part of the school's budget.

"That's a teacher in a classroom. That's a counselor. That's something that we really need in our schools, not having to come back and repair computers and walls,” she said. “That's money we desperately need to put back into the classrooms to help students achieve."

Alpenglow Principal Denise Demetree-Trombly was on vacation when she heard the news, but she immediately returned to Anchorage once she got the call.

She said the physical damage to school property is just the beginning, and that students have lost their sense of safety.

"The students know that somebody broke into their school and that makes them uncomfortable,” Demetree-Trombly said. “Not only is it the financial responsibility that's taken away from students, it's also that social and emotional piece that hurts them as well."

It's now up to the staff to reinstate that sense of security. When Demetree-Trombly returned Sunday, she found a host of staff and community volunteers ready to clean up the mess.

"We have a great community,” she said. “We're in it together. If it happens to you, it happens to me. And I'm here to help you."

The Anchorage School board says the solution to school vandalism lies in proactive policies to better protect ASD schools.

ASD Senior Director of Maintenance and Operations Darin Hargraves says whenever something like this happens, he re-evaluates security. He says safety is a constant priority for ASD.

And he has a warning for would-be vandals.

"It's not a smart thing to do. Chances are we will catch you on camera, and you will be caught,” Hargraves said. “So I would highly recommend that you stay out of our facilities."