Buchanan Middle School was damaged and a significant amount of items were taken during a break in over the weekend, according to a press release from Buchanan Community Schools.

The break-in, which occurred Saturday, could keep the middle school from opening on time Sept. 8.

Below is the release, which was posted on the district’s website:

On Saturday, Aug. 15, the Buchanan Middle School was aggressively broken into and a significant amount of material that had already been installed was stolen and/or damaged. Our main water piping was significantly damaged as was our ventilation system.

Our contractors have inventoried the damage and our construction managers have been working closely with local law enforcement and our insurance company to assess the impact on the completion of the middle school and to gather information to help us find the thieves.

Our insurance agent has given us the okay to have our construction crew work overtime to help us get back on track with construction. We have already started this process. In the meantime, we have hired extra security to be on site and the police department will be increasing night-time patrols.

In order to help our construction workers we are moving our Middle School Orientation to the High School Auxiliary Gym on Sept. 1:

7th grade – 5:30

6th grade- 6:30

5th grade – 7:30

We do not yet have enough information as to whether the Middle School will begin on time (All other buildings will be open on Sept. 8 for the first day of school). We are working closely with our Construction Managers, construction is continuing to move forward, volunteers are still working on putting together furniture, and we hope to give access to teachers shortly so they can begin setting up classrooms.

As soon as we have more information, we will share this with our community and our Middle School parents.

If anyone has any information regarding this incident, please contact the Buchanan Police Department.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through this issue.

— Dr. van der Laan, Buchanan Community Schools Superintendent