Woodbridge Threatens 2-Day Suspension For Students Who Walk

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — It's not just Sayreville. Woodbridge Twp. High School also threatened a two-day suspension to any student who walked out and off school grounds Wednesday during the national day of walkouts.

Students across the country marked March 14, the one-month anniversary of the Parkland, Florida school shooting, as a day of action. Many were planning walkouts at 10 a.m. on Wednesday. Woodbridge High principal Glenn Lottmann said: "Any student who chooses to leave school grounds will be subject to disciplinary action, which includes up to two days out of school suspension. Please make sure your child (children) is (are) aware of this," Lottmann wrote, in a letter a reader provided to Patch.

The ACLU is saying this is the most punitive response by any school district in the state.

"The students of Woodbridge High School will be invited to take part in an assembly that will honor the victims of Parkland High School on Wednesday, March 14," said Lottmann in a letter sent to parents. "The assembly will take place approximately from 9:45 a.m. until 10:15 a.m. Seniors and juniors will be in our gymnasium; sophomores and freshmen will be in our auditorium."

"If you do not wish for your child to be a part of this assembly they can stay in one of our cafeterias for the duration of the program. An announcement will be made before the assembly alerting students who do not wish to participate to go to the cafeteria," he wrote.

"This assembly is not a political statement; it is to honor the victims of Parkland High School," the full letter states. "We are very much aware of the nationwide walkout proposed by certain groups across the country. While Woodbridge High School, as well as the Woodbridge Township School District, recognizes the desire for students to voice their opinions on this emotional topic, our primary obligation is to maintain a safe school environment. This means that students have to be supervised at all times. A walkout would potentially put students in an unsupervised situation."