Parents raise questions about teenage party-goers

Sparta — The question of how far schools should go to discipline student behavior outside of school has again become a subject for discussion in the community. Sparked by a Halloween party that involved underage drinking and resulted in five arrests and two teens being transported to the hospital two weeks ago, concerned parents question why some 45 to 50 Pope John XXXIII Regional High School students in attendance were not punished in accordance with the school’s zero-tolerance policy on alcohol. Police called According to Sparta police, a call came in around midnight on Oct. 31 about a juvenile having a medical problem at a home in the township and they arrived to find a party in progress involving underage drinking. Police charged five of the juveniles with disorderly conduct. The juvenile who resided at the residence was charged with offering alcoholic beverages to an underage person. All the juveniles were either 16 or 17. The juveniles charged were from Sparta, Newton, Oak Ridge, Lafayette and Flanders. Another student, Zachary Cyr, age 18, of Hardyston, was charged with offering alcoholic beverages to an underage person. Some injuries One teen was treated at Newton Memorial Hospital for consuming too much alcohol and another was treated for a head injury and received several stitches. Both teens were treated and released. A neighbor who witnessed the events unfolding at the house reported that the parents were out of town the night of the party and had no idea what was going on until notified by police. The neighbor said many of the party-goers ran and hid when police arrived and police waited until almost 4 a.m. for all to come out of hiding so they could take their names. What happened next Sparta police Chief Ernie Reigstad said police respond to about one or two teen house parties that involve underage drinking each year and by law they are required to take names of all juveniles involved and report to their parents and their respective schools. Approximately 45 to 50 names were given to Pope John administrators after this party, Reigstad said. According to students who spoke to the Sparta Independent on the condition of anonymity, an assembly was held for all juniors and seniors and those involved in the Halloween incident were chastised but administrators did not levy the customary penalty described in the school’s student handbook, which states, “Any student who shall possess, use, sell, whether in school or out of school, narcotic drugs as defined in New Jersey Statute A24:18-2, or hypodermic syringe or needle or prescription therefore, or any hallucinogenic substance, or any other controlled substance (including alcohol), or who shall have in his/her possession any type of drug related paraphernalia shall be dismissed from the school.” Questions raised Some parents question why the teens were not expelled. One parent said, “It’s upsetting because we’re told the rules are the rules...except I guess when they’re not.” Chief Reigstad said, “We provided the school with all the information we had. Pope John administrators had questions about the event we were not able to provide.” The Rev. Msgr. Kieran McHugh, president of Pope John High School, said he would make an official statement about the event in a couple of days, but said, “It’s still under investigation by the police.” Who’s responsible for discipline? The role of the schools in the discipline of students outside of school was questioned recently in another incident involving Sparta High School students. When a student was injured in a fight that occurred after school and off school property, some parents wanted the high school to exact punishment on those involved. Some public schools, such as Vernon High School, have a 24/7 student conduct policy; Sparta High School does not and administrators acted to the extent their existing policy allows. Others argued at a Sparta board meeting that it is not the public schools’ role to discipline students for actions outside of school, but the responsibility of parents. Private schools have more leeway to create, follow, and bend their own policies.

Perhaps more thought should be given to how to help kids correct their ways than how to punish them.” Ernie Reigstad Sparta Police Chief and parent of two Pope John students