GILROY, Calif. -- Arson investigators in Gilroy are looking for the culprit behind a Wednesday night blaze that marked the second time in six months that fire has inflicted serious damage to an area school for students with disabilities. There are a lot of questions in the community about why someone would deliberately damage a school meant to help special needs children.

Shortly before 7:30 p.m. Wednesday night, a fire broke out at the Gateway Special Education School's main building. Just six months ago, another arson attack damaged the same building, displacing mentally or physically disabled students ages four through 22.

Parent Jamie Windgassen said he is disgusted that fire has again damaged his child's school. "It was hard enough when it happened the first time," he says. "You shouldn't do this to a school, it's for kids, it's for enrichment. It's sacred."

An autistic student said he's sad about the fire. Sixteen-year old Logan Janisch and his mother live across the street from the school, where he participates in the swim program.

His mother told KTVU News that special needs students don't easily adapt to new things, so transferring him to another school can be traumatic. Sandy Janisch says special needs students "live by a schedule. Everything has to be the same. Routine is very important."

Gilroy police officers went door to door on Thursday evening asking residents if they saw anything suspicious. Fire officials say the first fire in January was started outside the building in a pile of debris. But no one's been arrested, and authorities say they don't know if the same person is responsible for both fires. Battalion chief Phil King said, "No one's come forward."

Gateway Principal Laurene Neto said despite this second setback, the staff is resilient and the community is supportive. She says the school will be rebuilt, but that "it's really about the students. It's just a building. Our staff works really hard with the students, that's our focus."

And while Logan Janisch's mother said she's angry and hopes police catch the arsonist or arsonists, Logan wanted to send a message to whoever started the fire: "Don't do that anymore."

Fire officials said they contained the fire to the main building, so the portable classrooms used to teach some students remain intact.