UPDATE: Teaneck school officials this afternoon said they were concerned over “exaggerated reports of destruction and mayhem that misrepresent our school and community” following a prank-gone-wild that led to the arrests of two dozen 18-year-olds and complaints against 39 juveniles.
Superintendent Barbara Pinsak said shey didn’t condone “the poor judgment or behavior” of those involved but was concerned about descriptions of what was characterized as a rampage.
For instance, she said no urine was found, despite reports to the contrary. What’s more, district officials said, graffiti was scrawled with a water-based marker. No furniture, equipment or other property was damaged, they said.
Seven custodians completed their work in an hour and a half, before the start of yesterday’s school day, Pinsak said.
“The cleanup consisted of returning desks to classrooms, removing a small amount of graffiti that had been written with water-based marker from several surfaces, cleaning petroleum jelly product from doorknobs returning tables and chairs in the student center and cafeterias to upright positions and sweeping the many balloons and toilet paper streamer that had been distributed through three floors,” she said in a statement.
They emphasized that they weren’t contradicting law enforcement authorities but simply were following up with a report from their maintenance team.
In a letter to parents yesterday, Pinsak said the incident led to a “very negative portrayal through the media.”
“Misrepresentations of what happened” detracted from the good aspects of the school, she added.
Authorities said students flipped desks, taped hot dogs to locker, smeared Vaseline on doorknobs and sprayed silly string.
READ MORE: 63 grabbed while trashing Teaneck High School
PHOTO: Courtesy Nj.com