Schools
Superintendent Reported Residency Concerns With The District's 'Best Interest' In Mind, Report Says
Mark Toback acted in the best interest of the school district by reporting what he thought was a residency issue.
WAYNE, NJ — Superintendent Mark Toback reported what he believed to be a residency issue regarding three football players to the state last year "in the best interest of the school district," a report on the incident stated.
The Board of Education hired attorney Philip Stern, Esq. in December to look into what causes the temporary postseason ban of Wayne Hills High School's football team from the state playoffs during the 2016 season.
District officials have created new policies for making sure potential student athletes meet all residency criteria, NorthJersey.com reported.
Find out what's happening in Waynefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Stern reported his findings to the board after conducting the six-week investigation, which included interviews with school and district staff and administrators, including Toback.
The NJSIAA, the state agency that oversees high school athletics, banned the team after Toback reported that three students, Hunter, Tyler and were not "bona fide" Wayne residents.
Find out what's happening in Waynefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
RELATED: Wayne Hills Football Team Disqualified From State Tournament
District officials reported that the players did not file a bona fide change of address form when they moved to Wayne in 2015.
Because the players, Hunter and Tyler Hayek, and their younger brother, were initially ruled ineligible, the NJSIAA ruled that the entire team — 63 players — be ruled out of the playoffs. Parents and district officials sought a "fair and equitable solution," on behalf of the remaining 60 players.
Video of parents shouting at Toback during a closed-door meeting regarding whether or not the district would appeal the state's decision to ban the team later surfaced.
It was later determined that the boys' father had filed the proper paperwork with the district and the team was reinstated after a lengthy legal battle.
RELATED: High School Football Team Is Back In The State Playoffs
The Patriots defeated crosstown rival Wayne Valley in overtime in the North 1, Group 4 state championship game, the school's ninth.
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Patch file photo of Wayne Hills High School
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