Island students got a head start on the winter holiday this week, as Bainbridge Island School District closed Thursday and Friday due to icy conditions.

Classes resume Jan. 5.

A Tuesday school delay sparked an investigation by Bainbridge Police.

The delay, which set back all school start times by two hours, was caused by a large patch of ice that was discovered early Tuesday morning at the district’s bus barn. The ice patch spread from New Brooklyn Road and up a steep incline into the sheltered bus area.

“Our transportation supervisor went into the office at 5 a.m. and found the bus area covered in ice,” said district spokesperson Pam Keyes. “Someone had entered at some point in the night because there wasn’t any ice last night.”

Workers at the district bus barn also pointed out that “it didn’t rain last night.”

A BHS student said that police had questioned seven individual at the high school on Wednesday. There is no official word on any arrests or charges stemming from the matter.

According to Bainbridge police Lt. Sue Shultz, the incident is being investigated as a criminal matter.

“We’re looking at possible charges of burglary, malicious mischief and reckless endangerment,” Shultz said.

“Our concern is that there has been a wide discussion of how fun this could be. This is a serious incident, someone could have really gotten hurt, that’s our concern with the cold weather. Ice and people do not mix.”

Bainbridge schools began two hours late on Tuesday. The icing caused the cancellation of morning kindergarten or preschool programs as well.