The focus for much of the Sayreville community remains on healing and recovery as the school district continues an investigation into allegations of sexual assault involving members of the high school football team.
The Sayreville Coalition of Community Leadership, formed to counter the negative portrayal of the borough resulting from the scandal, is preparing for Sayreville United, an event designed to serve as a rallying point for residents.
“We want everyone and anyone in Sayreville to be here for a night of healing, hope, restoration, unity, respect and love,” the Rev. Clarence Bulluck of Faith Fellowship Ministries said in a press release. Sayreville United will be held Dec. 5 at Faith Fellowship Ministries World Outreach Center, 2707 Main St., with performances by local organizations 7-8:30 p.m. and a party to follow until 10 p.m.
“All the news that has been coming out about this situation has been negative. It has not shown that we have a community that cares about what’s going on and cares about the people within the community,” Bulluck said.
The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, which has brought charges against seven players for the alleged hazing, is moving forward with the criminal trials of the juvenile defendants. Sayreville United will come on the heels of a decision by the Board of Education to reinstate four Sayreville War Memorial High School (SWMHS) assistant football coaches to their teaching positions.
Tim Ballard, Mark Poore, Edward Mish and Michael Novak returned to their positions last week after more than a month of suspension with pay as the school district continues its investigation into the hazing allegations.
However, head coach George Najjar, who was suspended with pay on Oct. 7, will remain suspended with pay indefinitely despite the board’s unanimous vote to restore his colleagues to their positions.
“Tonight, we are moving forward as a school district,” Superintendent of Schools Richard Labbe said in a statement. “The actions taken by the board are the next step in this process. Our investigation is ongoing.”
Included in the addendum to the board agenda were recommendations by Labbe that the board withhold the expected salary increases for Mish and Ballard for the 2015- 16 school year. The addendum also states that Labbe would provide both employees with a written explanation within 10 days of the vote.
The board approved each measure unanimously without comment.
The move came the day before Charlie Garcia, a former assistant football coach at SWMHS, was indicted on charges that he was illegally in possession of steroids during a traffic stop. Officials have said the allegations against Garcia are unrelated to the hazing charges against the seven high school football players.
Despite the continuing investigations into both the hazing and allegations against Garcia, Bulluck said the community must come together as the process moves forward.
“We want to … let people see that the religious leaders, the community leaders, the school district and the community residents realize that there are issues here, and we are going to come together and address those issues with a positive response,” he said.