Schools

Amid Hazing Probe, Another NJ School Official Suspended: Reports​

The athletic director's suspension was announced during Tuesday's Wall Board of Education meeting.

The athletic director's suspension was announced during Tuesday's Wall Board of Education meeting.
The athletic director's suspension was announced during Tuesday's Wall Board of Education meeting. (Scott Anderson/Patch)

WALL, NJ — Wall High School's athletic director has been placed on leave, following allegations of hazing and sexual assault involving students, according to a report from NJ.com.

Tom Ridoux’s suspension was announced during Tuesday's Board of Education meeting. The board voted on an administrative leave with his employee ID, the publication reported.

NBC New York also independently confirmed Ridoux's suspension.

Find out what's happening in Wallfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Three coaches - who are also teachers - were put on leave previously, New Jersey Education Association spokeswoman Dawn Hiltner told Patch last week.

"We have assigned NJEA attorneys to work with them," Hiltner said, adding that she was unsure of how long their leave would be.

Find out what's happening in Wallfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Board member Kristen Hodnett started Tuesday's Board of Education meeting by reading out loud a letter of resignation from board member Russell Gartz, who did not attend the session.

"Unfortunately, the return on the voluntary commitment is not worth the risk anymore," Gartz stated in the letter. "The visceral and mean-spirited comments about many children and their families over the recent days has made being a volunteer position no longer valuable for me and my family."

During the heated session, parents demanded resignations and answers regarding the timeline of the events related to the hazing and sexual assault allegations. Former and current students described a culture of harassment at Wall High School dating back decades. Read more: Amid Hazing Probe, Wall Alumni Recall Culture Of Harassment

The Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office has launched two separate investigations, one looking into "allegations that acts of hazing occurred within the Wall Township High School football program" and a second one is following "unrelated allegations that one or more sexual assaults involving juveniles took place off campus," according to a statement released Tuesday afternoon.

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