Student arrests stem
from threats, protest
BY SUE M. MORGAN
Staff Writer
Recent events at Old Bridge High School, including bomb threats and a student protest, have prompted officials to remind parents they will have to pay if their child interrupts the educational process.
Superintendent of Schools Nicole Okun issued a warning yesterday following the arrest of an Old Bridge High School student believed responsible for Monday’s bomb hoax at the east campus.
That incident, which resulted in the evacuation of the building and a thorough police search of the premises, was the second bomb threat at the campus within two weeks.
Okun’s warning was also prompted by Friday morning’s student demonstration at the west campus, where two other students were arrested by township police.
Approximately 200 juniors and seniors refused to go to classes Friday morning in protest of district policies prohibiting students from using cell phones or wearing winter coats and jackets during class hours, officials said.
Any students found guilty of damaging property, making terroristic threats or interfering with the educational process in any way could face expulsion, Okun said in a press statement. Parents and guardians of those students will be held accountable for their child’s actions and will be ordered to reimburse the district for any damages resulting from those incidents, she added.
"Students were arrested and taken in police custody," Okun said. "They will appear before the Board of Education for an expulsion hearing. Full restitution for all expenses incurred will be sought by the district."
Old Bridge police charged a 14-year-old female with making terroristic threats in connection with the bomb threat supposedly scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Monday, according to Lt. Robert Weiss. Police believe that the student, whose name was withheld due to her age, scrawled the threat in pencil on a classroom desk sometime on Friday, Weiss said.
Mark Agolia, a vice principal at the east campus, pointed out the handwritten threat to School Resource Officer Gary Krupa later that day. At 6 a.m. Monday township police, assisted by bomb-sniffing dogs from the Middlesex County and Monmouth County sheriffs’ departments, searched the east campus for explosives but found none, Weiss said.
District administrators still decided to evacuate the school by holding a fire drill at 8:30 a.m. as an extra precaution.
Police believe the latest bomb threat at the east building, which houses freshman and sophomore students, could be connected to Friday’s protest at the west campus, Weiss noted.
"We believe that this was a low level incident and a continuation of Friday’s protest," the police lieutenant said.
The first bomb hoax, on Feb. 18, happened in a similar fashion when a classroom teacher discovered the message written in pencil on a student desk.
Police later arrested a 17-year-old male student in connection with that incident, which also resulted in the evacuation of the east campus. At that time, the students were transferred to the neighboring Carl Sandburg Middle School for nearly two hours.
Meanwhile, Old Bridge High School Principal James Hickey has been meeting with groups of students at the west campus to try to iron out differences over the restated district polices regarding cell phone use and dress codes.
Hickey, who began working in the district in January, has been holding frequent meetings with the students during their English-class periods since Monday, according to Lori Luicci, the district’s public relations officer.
In a letter to parents and guardians, dated Friday and issued following the protest earlier in the day, Hickey acknowledged the students’ concerns regarding the use of cell phones during class time and the wearing of winter coats and jackets to class.
"Cell phones are disruptive to the education process and are therefore not permitted," Hickey wrote.
"Old Bridge High School also has a dress code that does not permit students to wear winter jackets [in school]," he said. "Our dress code is a reasonable one that prepares students for the workplace. If students are cold, they are welcome to wear sweaters or sweatshirts."
Police arrested two teenage boys, both students at the west campus, in connection with two separate incidents connected with the demonstration.
One, a 16-year-old boy, was charged with aggravated assault after he allegedly struck a male teacher in the left shoulder shortly after the protest began at 9:10 a.m. Police reports indicate that the juvenile attacked the teacher in a hallway when he ordered the boy to go to class.
The suspect was later sent to the Middlesex County Juvenile Detention Center in North Brunswick, police reported.
Police charged a 17-year-old male student who pulled a fire alarm at about 9:33 a.m. and prompted the evacuation of the building. That juvenile was later released to the custody of a parent.
The protest was reportedly held in response to Hickey’s first letter to parents and guardians, dated Feb. 25, which restated the district’s policies prohibiting students from using cell phones, beepers or other two-way communication devices while on campus during the school day, 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The same letter also stressed that the students are not permitted to wear any type of winter outerwear such as coats, scarves or gloves during the school day.
In Friday’s follow-up letter, Hickey tried to explain the district’s position and pledged to work with the teens.
"Unfortunately, a small group of students decided to voice their concerns in an inappropriate manner," Hickey said. "Although I’m disappointed with this small group, I look forward to working constructively with the entire student body to create a positive climate at Old Bridge High School."
Student representatives had met with him regarding the policies, Hickey noted, even before the protest was staged.
"As the new principal of Old Bridge High School, I have every intention of listening to the students’ concerns," Hickey wrote.
"Not all student concerns can be addressed immediately. If there are areas where we can reach common ground, I am certainly open to that possibility," he said. "The high school rules and policies are in place, however, to ensure that we maintain a safe and positive learning environment."
Conversely, a number of students have sent letters to Hickey expressing disappointment with their classmates for Friday’s demonstration, Luicci said. Many of those students apologized for the actions of their peers and thanked Hickey for reinforcing existing polices and for discussing those policies with them, she added.