CLEVELAND, Ohio — As teachers share their safety concerns about thefts and vandalism in parking lots at different schools in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, the teachers union says the incidents are creating another problem.
"We've had our substitutes that have had their cars vandalized or stolen," Cleveland Teachers Union President Shari Obrenski told 3News, adding those crimes could impact the ability to attract substitute teachers. "It's hard to get subs as it is, and if a sub is concerned about going to a particular school because they seem to be hit more often by vandalism, we're never going to get subs for that school."
CMSD Safety and Security Chief Lamont Dodson says an arrest has been made in connection to the break ins. WKYC reached out to Cleveland Division of Police for more information, but has not heard back.
Cleveland City Councilman Kevin Conwell (Ward 9) said teachers have been calling him complaining about the break ins, and he's hopeful he can help with the problem.
"You can't do prevention without the community being there," Conwell said, "so you need all that, all key stakeholders."
Conwell noted school age kids are the ones targeting the school parking lots, paired with the same car theft trend we've seen all across the country.
"The commander said they're about 12 to 14 years old," he added, "so they're preteenagers really and can barely look over the [steering] column."
Conwell is scheduled to meet with teachers at Franklin D. Roosevelt Academy on March 14 at 3 p.m. and at Glenville High School on March 15 at the same time. He encourages parents and community members to attend, as well.
Watch surveillance footage of a carjacking at Stephanie Tubbs Jones School: