Updated: Peninsula High Hit With 'Major' Vandalism

campus was vandalized last night for the second time in just over two months and school officials are searching for any information that could lead to those responsible.

Principal Mitzi Cress alerted the school community in an email early this morning, warning of the "major vandalism" that could not be cleaned up before students and staff arrived at school.

"This is not in the spirit of school rivalries, this is criminal behavior," she said in an email.

In November, that covered the amphitheater and track, in addition to other buildings and school surfaces. It marked the first time in years an act of vandalism was reported at the school.

This time, graffiti, including profanities, covered more of the campus, marking the school's panther statue, tree stumps, brick, concrete, benches, lunch tables and buildings. Lockers were also vandalized, Associate Principal Stephanie Scott said.

"It's really disheartening to get [to campus] in the morning and see that it's been vandalized," she said. "You feel violated."

Scott said the cleanup would continue into Wednesday.

The school has offered a $1,000 reward for any information that leads to the arrest of those responsible for the most recent vandalism. Scott said no one had come forward so far with information.

"At this time we are at a dead end," she said.

Scott said the school will continue talking with the about increasing staff to strengthen security.

More surveillance on the "vulnerable" campus during the day and night might prevent acts of vandalism in the future, Scott said. The school did have a night campus supervisor for many years who recently died and has not been replaced. During that time, the school did not experience any vandalism incidents, she said.

Scott said she hopes the district will give the school some support.

"Clearly there's a need," she said.

Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to call Stephanie Scott at 310-377-4888, extension 691, or the .