A high school in Sussex County is reeling from allegations of homophobic, transphobic, antisemitic and racist comments made by students in recent days.
Administrators at High Point Regional High School are withholding details on what happened, but the school’s principal wrote in a letter addressed to the community on Wednesday that “there are divisive, destructive, and hateful elements in the broader global community impacting our students.”
“High Point Regional High School is aware of student reports of homophobic, transphobic, anti-Semitic, and racist comments made by students, all of which we are addressing and attempting to remedy. Such behavior is never acceptable and can never be tolerated — High Point believes in the dignity of every student, staff member and community member,” wrote the school’s principal, Jonathan Tallamy.
Tallamy declined further comment when contacted Thursday by NJ Advance Media.
His letter came five days after the high school, located in Wantage, sent an unusual, Friday evening email to the community noting “several incidents of inappropriate and disappointing student behavior” earlier in the day, but without providing details.
Tallamy, in his email to parents Wednesday accompanying his letter, characterized it as “an update on our communication from last week.”
The Oct. 22 email from Tallamy offered some clues on what transpired, stating that “capes, large flags, and other excessively long blanket-type attire fall outside the bounds of normal and appropriate school attire.”
However, it did not mention the allegations of homophobic, transphobic, anti-Semitic, and racist comments made by students, subsequently disclosed by Tallamy five days later.
“We want everyone to know that there is no simple solution to many of the things that are transpiring, some of which we have never seen, but our focus will always remain on supporting student voices in a safe environment,” Tallamy wrote last week.
Whatever happened at the high school did not lead to a response by the New Jersey State Police, said Sgt. Philip Curry. State police had investigated in 2019 after antisemitic graffiti, including a swastika and “Hitler was here,” was found in a bathroom at the school.
It is not clear whether the alleged remarks by students in recent days were connected to a “student safety concern” that, on Tuesday, also prompted an email from Tallamy to parents.
“The administration and school security staff fully investigated the claim, which was deemed to be unfounded,” wrote Tallamy, without providing details.
High Point’s superintendent, Scott Ripley, on Monday, told NJ Advance Media that the high school “proudly and consistently provides support for all students to express a wide range of personal, religious and political beliefs.”
“Student expression is a healthy sign of a robust, passionate school community and student culture. Our approach has always been, and will continue to be — supporting student expression while addressing student behavior which may fall outside of established high expectations. Our outstanding school community will continue to guide student growth and foster both passion and respect,” Ripley stated.
Ripley, asked for details on what specifically occurred at High Point, did not respond to phone messages Tuesday and Wednesday.
High Point Regional High School enrolls students from six municipalities in Sussex County, spanning a region in which 91% of residents are white and only 1% are Black, according to the most recent U.S. Census figures.
Just under 900 students were enrolled as of last spring.
Tallamy, in his letter, said the high school “will collaboratively develop short term and long term objectives to ensure the safety and support of all regardless of racial, gender, sexual, religious, or ethnic identity.”
“We recognize that this work may create difficult conversations that we need to be able to have as a community, but we need your help at home as well. We wanted to make you aware of the very serious student reports that have been made so you can also have a dialogue with your child at home and discuss with them the importance of respect within our educational community,” added Tallamy.
Tallamy did not indicate whether anyone is being disciplined, but wrote that any violations of the district’s policy against harassment, intimidation and bullying will be fully investigated.
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Rob Jennings may be reached at [email protected].