SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A sign welcoming students to the new school year at a Syracuse elementary school was changed this week into a crude message.

The letters in the “WELCOME BACK STUDENTS” message on a sign at Meachem Elementary School were rearranged into “WELCUM BACK STDS" on Monday night. The sign was corrected by 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, according Syracuse City School District officials.

The elementary school, which is in the city’s Valley section, houses students in pre-kindergarten to fifth grade.

The SCSD Family Engagement Facebook page posted a photo of the sign Wednesday afternoon to inform the community about the vandalism.

“Please be advised that this sign was tampered with,” the Facebook post said. “Meachem DID NOT and WOULD NOT abbreviate as such. So, please stop blaming the district. While we aren’t perfect, we are better than that!”

Michael Henesey, the district’s administrator for communications, said the sign was quickly changed. He said the district and school has not heard complaints about the sign.

Students in the Syracuse school district return to school today.