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Students, faculty and staff at Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons School in Schenectady have a sense of relief after the perpetrators of arson that destroyed the school's fieldhouse last month were arrested Nov. 14.

The building housed more than $80,000 worth of sporting equipment from several of the school's varsity teams, though the Holy Trinity football team faced the largest blow due to the timing of the arson.

The team, comprised of students from both ND-BG and Catholic Central High School in Troy, was scheduled to play its first-ever playoff game the next day against Hoosick Valley.

The playoff game did occur despite the loss, something that was made possible after the outpouring of support from the community (read a previous story at www.evangelist.org).

After speculation from some ND-BG and CCHS students that the perpetrator may have been connected to the opposing team's school, there was a feeling of closure after the news that the three teens responsible had no connection to the school.

Shameek McDuffie, Joseph Riordan and Francis Civitello all face charges connected to the arson. The Schenectady Police Department has yet to state the motive behind the crime, although it is suspected that alcohol was involved.

Nineteen-year-old Shameek is charged with third-degree arson for allegedly starting the fire -- a felony charge that has the possibility of 15 years of prison -- and with third-degree burglary, which could bring seven years in prison. He is also charged with petit larceny, criminal mischief and criminal trespass. As The Evangelist went to press, he was still in Schenectady County Jail.

Joseph, 18, pleaded not guilty to charges of burglary, trespass and intent to damage property. Seventeen-year-old Francis faces a misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief.

"There is an element of relief," Peter Fusco, principal of ND-BG, told The Evangelist.

He said the school community was grateful the perpetrators were off the street: "We are happy because justice will be served."

Now that the perpetrators of the arson have been arrested, Mr. Fusco said that ND-BG is looking forward to moving forward to rebuild the fieldhouse. That could cost up to $500,000.

"We are in the process of working with the insurance company to get the coverage taken care of," he said. "We really can't do anything until the settlement is made with the insurance company; then we can start to tear down."

The school hopes to have a new fieldhouse in place before the start of next football season in August.

Donations that poured in after the incident will go towards the rebuilding effort and toward replacement equipment for the teams who used the building for storage - not just the football team, but the baseball and track teams. Other school equipment was also stored in the fieldhouse.

"Some people specifically asked that the money go to something particular," Mr. Fusco noted. "We will use that money for the intended purpose."

As the Year of Mercy came to a close Nov. 20, the principal stressed that the year's emphasis on mercy was a positive reminder for the affected students.

"We want to be forgiving," he said -- something he's been preaching from the start.

The resolution of the incident also comes at Thanksgiving time, and Mr. Fusco said that "we have a tremendous amount to be thankful for," especially the generosity of the people who donated to prayed for the school and students.

ND-BG is still accepting donations to help with the damage the fire caused. To help, call (518) 393-3131.[[In-content Ad]]

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