Monday, April 29, 2013
West Orange High School said no indication April 24 threat on bathroom wall is credible, but officials taking it seriously — school to go on with increased police presence Tuesday.
The West Orange School District announced Monday the recent graffiti found in a West Orange High School lavatory warning of a bomb threat has been taken seriously but it believes the threat is a prank and school will go on as planned Tuesday. "We believe this is a prank bomb threat which does not directly indicate the high school is the target," Interim Superintendent Jim O'Neill said. "Nevertheless, we take this and any threat of this kind very seriously." The graffiti was found on a bathroom wall of West Orange High School on April 24 and warned of a bomb threat by the end of the month, police said. At that time, the district said threat was an "adolescent prank." The administration reassured parents the high school is safe and secure …
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West Orange High School
51 Conforti Ave, West Orange, NJ
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Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Despite supporters objections, West Orange Board of Education hires Jim Matsakis as new high school coach.
Over the objections of almost 200 supporters in attendance Tuesday night, the West Orange Board of Education approved the hiring of a new high school football coach to replace longtime coach John Jacob. In a 4-1 vote, with board member Ronald Charles dissenting, the board approved the hiring of new head coach Jim Matsakis despite pleas from community members, students and former players for the board to let Jacob retain his job after 10 seasons. More than a dozen residents offered testimony how the school community sees Jacob as more than a teacher or a coach. The parents and students also demanded transparency from the board why Jacob was removed. The residents cheered Jacob when he appeared at the meeting and several times throughout …
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West Orange High School
51 Conforti Ave, West Orange, NJ
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Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Following the arrest of a second teacher in the last year for alleged sexual assault, interim Superintendent James O'Neill outlines district policy, procedures.
Interim Superintendent James O'Neill addressed misinformation in the district's hiring process of teachers at Monday night's West Orange's Board of Education meeting, the Alternative Press reported. According to the report, O'Neill explained the procedures for background checks during a teacher's hiring process. Principals review Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying every year and provide at least one sexual harassment workshop every five years. He also said school principals advise staff to not be alone with students. The superintendent's address comes less than a week after a second West Orange teacher, Christopher Yonitch of Livingston, was arrested for alleged sex assault of a student in the last year. Yonitch is currently on paid …
40.80623
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West Orange High School
51 Conforti Ave, West Orange, NJ
/articles/o-neill-addresses-misinformation-in-teacher-hiring-process
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Vicki Russo
7:10 pm on Tuesday, April 30, 2013
I spoke with the principle after school was dismissed and today occurred without incident. The threat never stated there would be a bomb at the school only that there is a bomb. Also the writings on the wall had been wiped down looking as if the words were trying to be erased. Maybe the perpetrator tried to erase after writing this stupid remark on the wall. Well whatever happened was a wakeup of… more ›