Superintendent of Schools Peter Fischbach presented the punishment at a special Board of Education meeting last week that was attended by both students and parents.
"We are definitely not taking this situation lightly," Fischbach said. "The students should not have been in the school at that time, regardless of what they were doing. It was wrong and they had to be properly punished."
Of the 38 teenagers arrested in the incident, 18 were members of the North Bergen High School football team. Those players were suspended for one week, missing six practices and two preseason scrimmages, but they have now since returned to practice in preparation for the Bruins' season opener Saturday against Memorial.
"They paid their dues," said Vince Ascolese, the head football coach who is also the assistant superintendent of schools. "They all made a mistake and they missed six practices. Children will be children. It's a dead issue now. We've put it way behind us. Our kids were punished and we stand by them."
Since there was no evidence of drugs or alcohol at the scene of the party, Ascolese was quick to point out one fact.
"It proves that our drug and alcohol program works and that our (random) drug testing program works," Ascolese said.
While the players received a punishment from the Board of Education, Ascolese said that there was even further punishment from him on a football standpoint.
"We have certain rules when you miss practice," Ascolese said. "Well, these kids missed six practices. So we have our own ways of disciplining our players, and they know it and will know it."
One of the players, who requested anonymity, said that all of the players involved "feel stupid" about what happened.
"We have a good football team and we really could have messed things up by being there," said the junior, who has been charged with trespassing and breaking the curfew ordinance because he's 16 years old. "We could have ruined everything we worked hard for by going to a party. It was stupid, real stupid. We all feel that way. Of course, we didn't think we would get caught, and we definitely didn't think we'd get arrested for it."
The player insisted that there was no alcohol or drugs on the premises.
"We were all just hanging out together, sitting around, listening to music and stuff," the teen said. "There was no booze. I swear. Others said that the booze might have been coming, but I don't know anything about that. We weren't doing anything except hanging out. But it was wrong. I know it was wrong."
A parent, who also requested anonymity, agreed with the punishment.
"They made a bad choice, so they have to pay the price," the parent said. "Believe me, the punishment of my kid doesn't end here. He has bigger problems at home with me. He might not see the light of day until he's 21."
Other punishments
Also, as part of the punishment handed down by the Board of Education, the female students involved who are cheerleaders will have to sit out the first home game. And those not connected with athletics will have to serve two Saturday detention sessions.
Six of the young people were arrested and charged as adults because they were over the age of 18. They were charged with criminal trespassing.
The other 32 teens were charged as juvenile delinquents with criminal trespassing and violation of the township's 10 p.m. curfew on weekday evenings.
Two of the arrested teenagers, both females, are Rutherford residents and are unaffected by the North Bergen Board of Education's ruling.
The criminal charges are still pending, so there could be more punishment ahead, in terms of fines. More than likely, none of the arrested teenagers will see any jail time for their involvement. Probation and fines are usually the course of action in matters of this magnitude.
An investigation is still ongoing by school officials to determine just how the students were able to gain access to the building that night. Since the incident, all of the access doors have been secured and will be more closely monitored.
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