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Students, families urge South River board to reinstate senior clap out after June prank; board cites police investigation
Summary
Dozens of students and family members asked the board to reconsider discipline after a June 11 senior prank; students say fines, community service and exclusion from senior events are disproportionate. Superintendent and board clarified the building was under police investigation and that no final schedule changes on clubs have been made.
Dozens of students and parents told the South River Board of Education on June 16 that disciplinary steps taken after a senior prank on June 11—fines, community service and the district's decision to bar participating seniors from some events—were excessive and asked the board to restore the senior “clap out” and related activities.
Student representatives Nicholas Luis, Miranda Lizardo, Addison Lyons and others said the proposed schedule shift that would move clubs to after-school hours and the separate punishments issued in the prank's aftermath disproportionately exclude students who work, play sports or have family responsibilities. They said more than 200 students signed a petition asking clubs be kept during school hours and asked the board for a student–administrator committee to work on schedule solutions.
“Let us walk those halls one last time, not as criminals, but as graduates,” Addison Lyons told the board, asking that seniors be allowed toparticipate in the clap out. Several students said they had arrived the morning after the incident to clean but were not permitted to enter because the building was being treated as a crime scene.
Parents and students said penalties include a $150 fine per student, assigned community service, and exclusion from the senior barbecue and senior clap out. The mayor was quoted by speakers as saying “nothing was damaged,” and multiple speakers pleaded for forgiveness and for the district to restore the senior events.
Superintendent Dr. Zurcher told students the district had considered multiple bell schedules and had not made a final decision to eliminate in-school club time for 2025–26. She said the district was “looking to see how we can adjust the schedule but keep those clubs during the day.” She also explained why students were not allowed into the building the morning after the incident: police were securing and investigating the site and the district could not permit entry while that was underway.
Board members thanked students for appearing and apologizing publicly; they also described the need to review the chain of events and inventory the building before allowing students to return. Several speakers asked the board to reconsider disciplinary action taken against a custodian identified in testimony as Gilley (Mister Gilley Herrera), whom students and parents said should not be penalized for the prank.
The board did not announce a reversal of the penalties during the June 16 meeting. Board members said they will continue conversations and noted appreciation for students who took responsibility and apologized in public comment.
The public-comment segment on this topic occupied much of the meeting's second half and included students, parents and staff. No formal vote on altering the punishments or restoring events was taken on June 16.
