Wall High School Employees On Leave Amid Hazing Probe: Report

WALL, NJ — Employees at Wall High School have been put on leave in connection to the allegations of hazing within the football team involving a broomstick that were recently made public, according to a new report.

The suspensions were confirmed by a spokesperson from the New Jersey Education Association, the parent organization for the Wall Teachers Association Union, NJ.com reported Thursday.

“An attorney was assigned to the NJEA members involved,” said spokesperson Dawn Hiltner, per the report. “We have no further information about what may have taken place.”

The Wall Township Public Schools Superintendent announced on Wednesday that Wall's upcoming playoff football game that was supposed to take place on Friday was cancelled.

"Because of this pending investigation, and after consultation with the board counsel, administration and the office of the Monmouth County Interim Executive County Superintendent, the football game scheduled for this Friday is canceled," Handerhan wrote.

The hazing incidents reportedly involved about half a dozen older players pinning down a younger player in the locker room. Two parents of students at the high school shared details with the publication about a video that showed the incident in which one of the players was holding a mop or a broomstick.

The video does not show sodomy explicitly, but the parents told the publication that they think that is what some of the older players were attempting. They also claimed that the attacks happened more than once during this season.

Wall Township Board of Education President Ralph Addonizio confirmed that the hazing allegation was being investigated.

"Upon becoming aware of the allegation, we immediately contacted the appropriate authorities," Addonizio said in a statement over email. "There's a pending investigation, and the school district is cooperating fully. We cannot comment further on a pending investigation of a student matter."

The official said that all questions should be directed to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office Public Information Officer Mark Spivey told Patch that, due to the confidential nature of juvenile records, the office cannot confirm or deny any details.

Wall school board attorney Anthony Sciarrillo also told NJ.com that law enforcement and the district were conducting their own investigations.

“The matter’s been referred to law enforcement, and the district’s been doing its own investigation,” Sciarrillo said. “When information becomes available that we can share with the public, we will do that.”

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