FREEDOM, Pa. — The parents of two dozen Freedom Area High School students aren't happy their children are facing more than $300 in fines after decorating their school with balloons and confetti as a senior prank.
According to police, 24 seniors broke into the school around midnight on May 21 and have received trespassing citations after the school's main hallway was festooned with balloons, lockers were topped with confetti and messages were written in chalk on outside sidewalks.
Authorities said surveillance cameras set up around the school helped officials identify the students.
Officials said a few of the students have already shown up at the magistrate’s office and admitted guilt.
However, some parents said the school should have ordered the kids to clean up the mess, not call police. Some parents said they're considering fighting the charges.
School officials said they found the door the students used had been locked, so the charges could have been more severe.
Alex Moon, a senior at Freedom High School, said he thinks school officials and the district overreacted.
“They didn’t really break in. They left the gate open. I don’t think they should have been charged for it,” Moon said.
Superintendent Ron Sofo said the students involved are good kids but needed to learn an important lesson.