School officials defend decision to bar seniors from ceremony - New York News | NYC Breaking News

School officials defend decision to bar seniors from ceremony

After Friday's food fight at Wood-Ridge High School in New Jersey, six seniors were told they weren't allowed to walk in graduation. Those four of those seniors said they told me they're very upset. But the school's principal and superintendent are standing by their decision.

"I've never seen anything like this in all my years," Principal Sue DeNobile said. "In terms of ranking it, on a scale of 10 being really severe, I'd put it at a 10."

DeNobile said the food fight spiraled out of control.

"Two of my staff people were assaulted with food and with beverages, one even hit in the head with a bottle," she said. "And at the time when we tried to get control of the situation - it had in essence, become a melee."

DeNobile said she had to put the school on lockdown during the food fight.

School officials then decided to suspend the six seniors and one junior they say were responsible and not allow those seniors to walk at graduation.

"Given the severity of what happened, we knew that our decision was the best," said Dr. Beth Ebler, the superintendent.

Ebler said she is received threatening emails about the decision.

"One parent said she would show up regardless of our decision," she said. "We are prepared. And she has been forewarned that she is not allowed on the premise -- and we will handle that when it happens."

The seniors are also speaking out and telling a very different story. They say dozens of kids were involved in the food fight. They also said it never got out of hand and that no one was assaulted.

"They were saying we were endangering students and faculty," said Nick Telesmanic. "I don't understand how someone could endanger someone with pasta and pizza crust."

P.J. Incremona said: "I just feel like it wasn't right for us to be singled out when there's 50 other kids just as guilty as us."

The students said they're upset that this right of passage was taken away.

"My family is devastated, they can't believe it," Chris Cruz said. "Four years, now I can't walk, it's horrible."

"My grandparents, everybody came in from Florida, this was supposed to be a happy occasion and it turned out to be a disaster," Danielle Decarolis said.

The students said they tried to offer to do different forms of community service, but the school decided this was the appropriate punishment.

The superintendent said she plans to be prepared if any students or parents decide to crash or protest at Friday night's graduation.