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Over the weekend of Jan. 13, apparently by kicking the sign and using an instrument such as a bat, somebody split its bottom half into several pieces, said Principal Justin FitzGerald.

Together, the West Laurel Civic Association (WLCA) and Bond Mill Parent Teacher Organization are planning to offer more than $500 in reward money for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for this month’s incident.

‘‘Our kids worked so hard to give something back to the school and to the community, and this is what happens?” said Kristen Ruiz, the Parent Teachers Association president.

FitzGerald, who believes it will cost around $200 to repair the $1,300 sign, said the school is considering lighting, landscaping and perhaps a Web cam, to help protect the sign.

FitzGerald acknowledged, however, that no security measure could guarantee vandals would be stopped.

‘‘All you can hope is the decency of people will shine through,” he said.

Whoever destroyed the previous sign used similar methods, FitzGerald said.

WLCA President Mary Lehman said about a dozen residents, many of them without children, have offered to contribute money toward the reward.

‘‘I think people really recognize the value of this school to the quality of life in this neighborhood and its extremely offensive to everyone that someone would do this not once but twice,” Lehman said. ‘‘I think the attitude is, enough is enough.”

Graffiti was sprayed on a sidewalk, trash receptacle and portable classroom at the school last spring and fall but things had been quiet since then, FitzGerald said.

E-mail Steve Earley at searley@gazette.net.