Bibb County school administrators suspect a senior prank is behind a graffiti attack overnight at Howard High School.

Teachers and students arrived Wednesday morning to find phrases and words written on the outside walls and windows.

The writing was in chalk and what appeared to be shoe polish or colored paint, like a car dealer would use to write on windows or that is used to paint signs.

“It’s something that a good rain shower would probably wash most of it away,” said Josephine Bennett, public relations specialist for the Bibb County school system.

Bennett said Bibb County’s Campus Police are investigating the incident.

Officer Mike Cheek inspected the school and was reviewing surveillance images Wednesday morning to try to identify suspects.

He did not find any evidence of profanity or other vandalism, he said.

“They did it with concrete chalk, so they weren’t intending it to stay long,” Cheek said. “They didn’t bust any windows and you can wipe the shoe polish off with your hands.”

Bibb County school system maintenance workers were able to easily wipe most of it away with simple cleaning materials and estimated Wednesday that they could clean it up in less than a few hours.

If police can identify the culprits, the school will determine what discipline is in order, Cheek said, but he did not initially find anything that could lead to serious criminal charges.

“The criminal part comes in if they used foul language or racial slurs,” he said. “Basically I think it’s just a prank.”

Some of the sayings invoked religious tones, such as “In God we trust,” with crosses and “Keepers of the faith.”

“We love you guys” was written in pink on one window and a door read “Doorway to madness.”

The blue word “pigs” emblazoned a barbecue smoker and “Teach me a lesson I ain’t lurnt nuffin” was on the front side of Howard High.

“Prison” was written on a side wall and “Report to your cells,” was on the sidewalk leading to a door.

Bennett said that, based on what is written, they are assuming at this point that it was a senior prank.

To contact writer Liz Fabian, call 744-4303.