Meeting Held Regarding Possible School Resource Officer at Columbia High School

Maplewood, New Jersey: The possibility of a Maplewood Police Department school resource officer at Columbia High School brought dozens of community members to a forum on Monday night. 

The sworn officer would be assigned to the school everyday, and would have an office inside the building. 

South Orange Police Chief Kyle Kroll and Maplewood Police Chief Robert Cimino both spoke in favor of the proposal at the beginning of the meeting, as did former Maplewood Police Sgt. Michael Morrison, who served as a school resource officer at Columbia High School from 2001 to 2005. According to Chief Cimino, the role was eliminated in 2008 due to budget cuts. The South Orange Maplewood School District currently contracts with U.S. Security Associates for security officers at Columbia High School, Maplewood Middle School, and South Orange Middle School. 

"They saw him as a friend; they didn't see him as a police officer", Chief Kroll said of Sgt. Morrison. 

Morrison then stated then when he worked at Columbia, he would often speak to students in classes like driver's education. "Those relationships that I built in the high school are still in place", Sgt. Morrison told attendees. 

Several students, alumni, and parents then spoke about the proposal, most of whom were against it. 

"Why now?", one student asked. Superintendent Dr. John Ramos responded that a state task force about safety published recommendations, one of which was to hire school resource officers.

"We can't guide our lives by one extreme", said a parent. 

Several other community members spoke out about alleged incidents of racism by police officers and school security officers at the high school, and one alumnus stated that he was assaulted by a police officer at the high school in 2003, and was then expelled from school. 

"It traumatized me", he told the crowd. "I have a lot of respect for the cops, but do we really need them in the high school? No we don't", he said. The former student later graduated from Kean University and received a degree from Seton Hall University earlier in the day on Monday. 

"I always support student voice; student voices are important," Dr. Ramos told Essex County Place following the meeting. "I know lots of times the items at board meetings can be boring and of no consequence but just their presence makes a difference because they are who we serve", he added. 

Monday's meeting came after a meeting on Thursday night where many students and Columbia High School teacher Thomas Whitaker spoke out about recent racial incidents in the school district. During Thursday's meeting, Whitaker stated that due to budget cuts, teachers had been planning to organize. 

"However, according to district leadership, they were advised to 'discourage their people from organizing or they would feel the wrath of the superintendent'", Whitaker claimed. 

"My reference to staff coming to board meetings was more about those instances where people were being self serving, and that's been the history in the district in some cases and I think its contrary to the culture that a school district should have", said Dr. Ramos in response, adding that "I had no problem with Mr. Whitaker coming to the meeting last week and in fact I'm gratified that people came forward to talk about the issue". 

Dr. Ramos said that he is planning on starting a Superintendent's roundtable for students to speak about school issues. 

South Orange Village President Sheena Collum, Maplewood Mayor Vic DeLuca, Columbia High School Principal Elizabeth Aaron, South Orange Maplewood Board of Education members, students, teachers, union leaders, and actor John Amos were among the other attendees at Monday's meeting. 

However, some felt that more people from the community should have been in attendance. Nina Kambili, the student representative to the South Orange Maplewood Board of Education, said that it was a "sham of a forum", noting that the event was barely advertised to students. 

"This room should be filled", another student stated near the end of the meeting.

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Breaking: Columbia High School in Maplewood Released from Code Yellow Shelter-in-Place

UPDATE: Columbia High School Principal Elizabeth Aaron announced to students and staff at 2:10pm that some students coming back from their lunch break claimed that a student appeared to have a weapon. That student was located and was allegedly in possession of a toy weapon. Aaron announced that the student was removed from school and could face legal consequences under New Jersey state law. The student, a ninth grader, was arrested and will be sent to the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center in Newark, according to Maplewood Police. 

Original Report: 

Maplewood, New Jersey: The most recent code yellow shelter-in-place lockdown at Columbia High School in Maplewood has concluded. It lasted Thursday afternoon from 12:14pm to 12:34pm during period 6. 

During a shelter-in-place lockdown, classes can continue, but students and staff must remain in their classrooms. Several students were outside of the building on their lunch break during the shelter-in-place. Maplewood Police Department officers were present at the scene. 

400 students from other high schools had just been dismissed from an assembly in the school's auditorium. 

There was another code yellow shelter-in-place lockdown at Columbia High School in November after a student allegedly threatened to post a video of a school shooting on Instagram. That student was charged as a juvenile with making terroristic threats. The high school was also locked down this past June and in November, 2014 after students were accused of bringing weapons to school.

UPDATE: The student arrested during the most recent lockdown has been charged as a juvenile with possession of an imitation firearm, false public alarm, terroristic threats, aggravated assault, and possession of a weapon in an educational institution.

Attorney for Former Teacher Nicole Dufault Blames Frontal Lobe Syndrome for Alleged Crimes

Maplewood, New Jersey: Former Columbia High School Language Arts teacher Nicole Dufault, of Caldwell, continues to face dozens of charges in connection with the alleged sexual assaults in 2013 and 2014 of six students. This week, her attorney, Timothy Smith, of Caruso Smith Picini in Fairfield, said in a statement that frontal lobe syndrome "has rendered her (Dufault) defenseless to over-aggressive behavior, and that is exactly what she was exposed to". Dufault was reportedly diagnosed with the syndrome after undergoing brain surgery at a local hospital.

When she was still teaching, Dufault told her students that she only felt pain as a result of her illness during rainfall, and that doctors recommended that she move to Arizona. Dufault also told students in the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year that she planned to file a lawsuit against the hospital where she underwent brain surgery.

"We continue to prepare for trial so our juvenile victims may find the justice they are seeking", said Gina Iosim of the Essex County Prosecutor's Office in a statement responding to Smith's comments.

All of the alleged victims were under 18 at the time of the incidents.

Dufault was released from the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark in late October, 2014 on $500,000 bail.

Above: Detectives searched Dufault's classroom after her arrest in September, 2014

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Town Hall Meeting Regarding School Safety Held at Maplewood Middle School

Maplewood, New Jersey: South Orange Maplewood School District officials and other local leaders held a town hall-style meeting on Monday evening at Maplewood Middle School regarding recent incidents at two local schools.

Last Wednesday, a seventh grade student at Maplewood Middle School was arrested after he allegedly brought a loaded handgun to school. The following day, a ninth grade student at Columbia High School was arrested on charges of bringing a kitchen knife and airsoft gun to class. Both students are being held at the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center in Newark's Central Ward.

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South Orange Maplewood Board of Education President Wayne Eastman told the hundreds of parents, students, teachers, community members, and members of the media who attended that the South Orange Maplewood School District was going through "difficult and trying times".

Acting Superintendent James Memoli, an employee of the South Orange Maplewood School District for over 40 years, said that the district is "determined to leave our house in order for the new superintendent". Memoli is retiring in June.

Maplewood's Mayor, Victor DeLuca, said that "Maplewood and South Orange are good communities", but added that the recent incidents at Maplewood Middle School and Columbia High School are a "community-wide concern".

"We should say 'no' to violence in this community", said DeLuca, who felt that "we have too many guns in our society".

According to DeLuca, the handgun that was allegedly brought to Maplewood Middle School by the student was "obtained in the home".

Columbia High School Principal Elizabeth Aaron told attendees that they "should all call Trenton" to discuss issues relating to school security.

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Parents of students at Columbia High School, Maplewood and South Orange Middle Schools, and Seth Boyden, Marshall, Jefferson, and Tuscan Elementary Schools spoke to the Board of Education about a variety of issues relating to the school district.

"It's been a rough week for our two towns", said one parent.

An alumnus of Columbia High School and a current twelfth grade student were among the speakers at the meeting.

The alumnus stated that when she was a student in the public schools of South Orange and Maplewood, there were a variety of programs to assist students that were believed to have been at-risk. According to South Orange Maplewood Board of Education member Johanna Wright, these programs have since been eliminated, and have been replaced by YouthNet programs.

"This is very upsetting to me", said Wright.

One parent praised the YouthNet programs, and said that they allowed her child to be employed at the South Orange Village Hall and the South Orange Public Library, and to become an intern at a local company.

A parent of a Maplewood Middle School student questioned the Board of Education on whether the recently-arrested seventh grade student would return to the South Orange Maplewood School District to attend Columbia High School in 2016. Several attendees asked the Board members for a response, however, the officials were unable to give a definitive answer at that time.

Other attendees brought up issues such as alleged bullying in the school system, residency of students, a moment of silence reportedly held at one school for Michael Brown, school suspensions, demographics of the Columbia High School staff compared to that of the student population, and whether metal detectors should be installed at schools.

Many members of the audience showed their disapproval for the idea of having metal detectors installed. None of the public schools in South Orange and Maplewood currently have metal detectors, although all schools are equipped with surveillance cameras. In addition, the District contracts with U.S. Security Associates for security staff at Columbia High School.

Regarding alleged bullying in the school system, one parent said that  "the bullying and HIB process doesn't work", referring to the system of reporting student harassment, intimidation, and bullying.

Another parent asked the South Orange Maplewood School District to hire a "director of Homeland Security for South Orange/Maplewood".

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Maplewood Middle School's Principal, Jerrill Adams, praised the school's students. saying that "the vast majority of our students come to school excited, motivated, and ready to learn". 

Adams informed the audience that the school has issued 52 student suspensions so far this school year, and that of those 52 suspensions, 31 were accumulated by the same ten students.

Adams said that the remaining 96% of students "present no significant behavior problems whatsoever", and that on the day following the arrest of the seventh grade student, every staff member was present.

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Additional attendees included South Orange Middle School principal Joseph Uglialoro, South Orange Police Chief James Chelel, Maplewood Police Chief Robert Cimino, South Orange Village President Sheena Collum, Columbia High School Assistant Principal Charles Ezell, and all members of the South Orange Maplewood Board of Education.

Cimino informed attendees that the parent of the student who allegedly brought the handgun to Maplewood Middle School is facing charges.

This story will be updated.

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Columbia HS Security Officer Sues Essex County Sheriff's Office in Connection With Son's Death

Above: Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura

Maplewood, New Jersey: Laura Velez, a security officer for U.S. Security Associates who works at Maplewood's Columbia High School, is suing the Essex County Sheriff's Office and Sheriff Armando Fontoura in connection with the death of her son. NJ Advance Media reports that narcotics officers from the Essex County Sheriff's Office shot Velez's son, Jose Quinonez, in Newark's North Ward in 2013 after striking him with a car. The report states that officers had attempted to arrest Quinonez, who was walking to Velez's house in Newark.

Read more on NJ.com. 

More Columbia High School News:

Student Taken Into Custody During Lockdown

Zach Braff Inducted Into Columbia High School Hall of Fame

Columbia High School Students Hold 'Columbia 2025' Forum

(File Photo)

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UPDATE: Columbia High School Students Released from Lockdown, Student in Police Custody

Maplewood, New Jersey: Students and staff at Columbia High School on Parker Avenue in Maplewood have been released from a code yellow lockdown that lasted for over half an hour. Principal Elizabeth Aaron announced the lockdown at approximately 2:37pm during Period 9 at the school. During a code yellow lockdown, no student or staff member is permitted to leave the classroom. The lockdown concluded before 3:20pm, after the usual school conclusion time. Several officers of Maplewood Police Department responded to the school once the lockdown was in place. 

According to the Maplewood Police Department, the lockdown began after authorities learned that a ninth grade student was allegedly in possession of an airsoft gun and a kitchen knife. The student is currently in police custody.

In an email to parents, Principal Aaron and Acting Superintendent James Memoli said that the student "will not be returning to Columbia High School".

"The CHS administrative team is grateful for the swift and competent work of the Maplewood Police Department and for the Columbia students and staff who handled the 'Code Yellow' as has been practiced in school safety drills", said Memoli and Aaron.

Police officers remained on the streets surrounding the high school following the release of students.

Principal Aaron made an announcement to students this morning several hours before the lockdown regarding recent fights involving ninth grade students and other students on and near school property.

This is the third lockdown that has been held at Columbia High School in the 2014-15 school year. The school was placed under code red lockdown in November after a staff member reported that a student may have had a firearm in their possession. No firearm was found, though a student was arrested for possession of brass knuckles. A former student was charged with trespassing. In Feburary, the school was placed on code red lockdown due to an "incident that involved technology".

Several incidents have taken place at schools in the South Orange Maplewood School District within the past week. A Maplewood Middle School student was taken into police custody on Wednesday after allegedly bringing a loaded firearm to school. An online petition was formed by a Maplewood resident who is asking the school to hold an assembly regarding gun violence.

This story will be updated.

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UPDATE: Fan on Fire Causes Columbia High School Evacuation

Maplewood, New Jersey: Columbia High School was evacuated at approximately 12:35pm this afternoon after students smelled smoke in the A wing of the school's first floor, near room A131. The students informed school security staff and a Maplewood Police officer, who were reportedly outside of a nearby restroom due to an unrelated incident.

The fire alarm was activated while students were walking from their Period 6 classrooms to their Period 7 classrooms. Students and staff members remained outside of the building on nearby streets until approximately 12:57pm, when authorities gave permission for the building to reopen.

Firefighters and officers from the Maplewood Fire Department and the Maplewood Police Department responded to the school less than five minutes after the alarm was activated. Parker Avenue was closed between Prospect and Valley Streets while authorities investigated. Kensington Terrace was also shut down.

Following the evacuation, Columbia High School assistant principal Michael Healy announced that the incident was a "real fire emergency", and that the "building has been deemed safe". 

Dozens of students were taking Advanced Placement exams when the fire alarm was activated.

UPDATE: Maplewood Fire Department Chief Michael R. Dingelstedt told Essex County Place that the evacuation was caused following a report by Columbia High School Principal Elizabeth Aaron that a fan had caught fire. "Investigation revealed a moderate smoke condition caused by a fan motor burning in a wall above the office", said Chief Dingelstedt, who added that the fan was turned off prior to the arrival of the Maplewood Fire Department. According to Chief Dingelstedt, this action prevented the "fire from extending beyond the fan motor". After the fan was disconnected and removed, the building was ventilated using a ventilation fan. Once this was complete, the building reopened.

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Columbia High School in Maplewood Briefly Evacuated

Maplewood, New Jersey: Columbia High School on Parker Avenue in Maplewood was briefly evacuated this afternoon, reportedly due to a leak in the boiler room in the basement of the school's A wing. The fire alarm rang during period 9 at approximately 2:40pm, and students returned to class approximately 15 minutes later, just before the end of the school day. Parker Avenue was briefly shut down by Maplewood Police officers and Columbia High School security officers between Valley and Academy Streets.

"I'm glad everyone was prepared for the evacuation", said assistant principal Michael Healy in an announcement to students and staff.

Joseph Callaghan, the Deputy Chief of the Maplewood Fire Department, told Essex County Place that "the boilers were shut for repair", and that "the evacuation went smoothly".

This story will be updated.

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Columbia HS Teacher Nicole Dufault to be Arraigned on April 6

Newark, New Jersey - Nicole Dufault, a 35 year old Columbia High School language arts teacher and Caldwell resident, will be arraigned on April 6. Dufault was indicted in February on 40 counts of aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, after allegedly sexually assaulting six of her students in 2013 and 2014 at the Maplewood school. The students involved were between 14 and 15 years old at the time of Dufault's alleged crimes.

At Superior Court in Downtown Newark this morning, Dufault's attorney, Timothy Smith of Fairfield based Caruso Smith Picini said that she would apply for pre-trial intervention. 

Gina Iosim of the Essex County Prosecutor's Office said that a plea deal is being offered to Dufault. In exchange for a guilty plea, Dufault would face 15 years in the New Jersey State Prison system, with no chance of parole until 85% of her term is served. She would also be subject to parole supervision for life and would have to register as a sex offender.

Following her court appearance, Smith said that he does not believe that Dufault will accept the plea agreement. 

"We believe in her innocence", said Smith after being asked why Dufault is pleading not guilty, adding that he felt that his client is the victim.

Janine Gregory, the South Orange Maplewood School District English Language Arts supervisor, told Essex County Place that she is "unable to comment because there's an active investigation going on", and "can't participate in any interviews". Gregory was Dufault's supervisor at Columbia High School.

The alleged sexual assaults took place in Dufault's vehicle and on CHS property. Dufault's shared classroom, B238, was searched by investigators and was closed off to students following her arrest. A sign posted on the door declared the room to be "unusable". The classroom is now being used by other teachers.

Some of the alleged incidents took place during the summers of 2013 and 2014, when Dufault was an English teacher for the Bridge to Success summer program at the high school. According to the South Orange Maplewood School District website, "Bridge to Success is a four-year program that is designed to provide additional support for students who are at-risk...The summer program provides participants with academic and study skills instruction". According to school district board of education meeting documents, Dufault was an instructor for the program in 2011 and 2012 as well, and was paid $50 per hour.

In an interview with Essex County Place in November, Columbia High School principal Elizabeth Aaron criticized media coverage of Dufault's arrest and an unrelated arrest of a student on charges involving possession of brass knuckles.

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UPDATED: CHS Teacher Nicole Dufault Indicted for Allegedly Sexually Assaulting Six Students

Original Post from 2/17: The Essex County Prosecutor's Office has announced that Columbia High School language arts teacher Nicole Dufault has been indicted on dozens of charges regarding alleged sexual assaults of six students. Dufault, a 35 year old Caldwell resident, was arrested in September on charges of sexually assaulting three students at the Maplewood school. Two days later, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office announced that two additional alleged victims had come forward. Today, Acting Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced that a sixth alleged victim was identified.

According to a press release, "the indictment accuses Dufault of engaging in sexual activity with all six boys on multiple occasions between 2013 and 2014". 

The alleged victims were 14 and 15 years old at the time of the incidents.

Dufault was indicted on 40 counts of aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child. The alleged sexual assaults took place on Columbia High School grounds and in Dufault's vehicle. Dufault's classroom, B238, was closed off in the days after her arrest, and several unmarked police cars were present at the school on the morning after her arrest. At the time of her arrest, Dufault had taught at Columbia for nine years.

A video allegedly shows Dufault having sex with a student in her car. Several Columbia High School students reportedly viewed the video in the days surrounding Dufault's arrest, causing one staff member to warn her class that sharing the video of the alleged incident could constitute sending child pornography.

Dufault was held in the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark for over a month before posting $500,000 bail. She entered a plea of 'not guilty' in September, and is now scheduled to appear in Superior Court in Newark on March 6.

Dufault is considered innocent until proven guilty. She faces decades in state prison if convicted on all counts.

Update 2/18: In an email to Essex County Place, Dufault's attorney, Timothy Smith, said "I feel extremely confident in stating, and firmly believe, that there is only one victim, not six, as averred in the indictment, and that victim is Nicole Dufault". Officials with the South Orange Maplewood School District and the South Orange Maplewood Education Association union did not respond to requests for comment.

Above: There was a large police presence at Columbia High School following Dufault's arrest.

Above: This lot on Parker Avenue was reportedly Dufault's assigned parking lot during the 2013-14 school year.

Above: This is Dufault's condominium in Caldwell. Authorities searched the condominium following Dufault's arrest.

This story will be updated.

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Top photo credit County of Essex. All other photos credit PlaceNJ.com.

Update: Lockdown Concluded at Columbia High School

Updated 5:15pm: The Maplewood Police Department has issued a press release regarding the code red lockdown at Columbia High School today. According to the release, the MPD received an automated message that the lockdown alarm was activated at CHS at approximately 10:35am. Upon arrival, officers were "advised by school staff that they had no knowledge as to why the alarm was activated". Subsequently, "officers conducted a search for an active threat, (however) no active threat was located". As was reported earlier, several classrooms in the 'A wing' of CHS were not checked by officers following the lockdown. In response, the release from the MPD notes that "the incident is presently under review".

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Update 3:20pm: In an announcement to students, CHS Principal Elizabeth Aaron said that the lockdown was "related to an incident that involved technology". South Orange Maplewood School District Acting Superintendent James Memoli said in an email to parents that the lockdown was caused by "technical work being done on system lines", and that the Maplewood Police Department assured officials that "there was not a threat to student or staff safety at any time".

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Original Post: Columbia High School (CHS) in Maplewood was under code red lockdown this morning. An alarm was activated at approximately 10:37am during period 4. Students were released from the lockdown shortly before 12:00pm during period 5.

CHS Principal Elizabeth Aaron, Assistant Principals Cheryline Hewitt and Michael Healy, and Guidance Department Supervisor Jennifer Giordano made several announcements to students and staff members during the lockdown.

"There is no threat to anyone's safety", Healy announced. "We appreciate your patience", he added.

Aaron informed students that officers from the Maplewood Police Department would check every classroom before anyone was released. However, multiple classrooms in the 'A wing' of the school were not inspected by officers. There was a large police presence outside of the school during the lockdown.

In an email to parents during the lockdown, Acting Superintendant James Memoli said that "all students (were) safely sheltered".

The reason for the lockdown has not yet been released.

CHS was also under code red lockdown in November, after a student allegedly brought brass knuckles inside the building. In the 2013-14 school year, the code red alarm was accidentally set off by a maintenance contractor, causing the school to be under lockdown until 3:30pm. The alarms were installed in 2013.

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File Photo of CHS

Columbia HS Students Walk Out of Class to Protest MO Grand Jury Decision

Dozens of students at Columbia High School in Maplewood walked out of the building this morning to protest the decision by a St. Louis County, Missouri grand jury not to indict Ferguson city police officer Darren Wilson on charges relating to the death of Michael Brown.

The walkout took place during the reading of the Pledge of Allegiance at approximately 9:10am. Students protested nonviolently in front of the Parker Avenue school for several minutes before reentering the building and marching in the hallways. CHS principal Elizabeth Aaron made an announcement to students and staff members at 9:43am asking students to "please return to (their) period 3 classes". Aaron also asked teachers to step out into the hallways to supervise.

Multiple student walkouts have taken place in the South Orange Maplewood School District in recent years. In 2012, South Orange Middle School students walked out of class to protest the decision made by school officials not to give tenure to two teachers. In 2010, students at CHS walked out to protest Governor Chris Christie's proposed budget cuts to education.

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Updated: Columbia HS Principal Criticizes Media Coverage of Alleged Criminal Activities

The principal of Columbia High School criticized the media coverage of recent alleged criminal activities at the Maplewood school. In an interview today with Essex County Place, Elizabeth Aaron said that reporters "can be distracting and disruptive to students". Aaron added that she was "not really surprised" by media attention because she feels that news organizations cover "stuff they think will get the most attention".

A 17 year old student was arrested on Monday for allegedly bringing brass knuckles inside the school. CHS was on 'Code Red' lockdown for nearly two hours that day after a staff member reportedly called the Maplewood Police Department claiming that a weapon was present in the school. An 18 year old former student was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly trespassing on school property.

In September, a Language Arts teacher at the school was arrested for allegedly having sex with five of her students. Nicole Dufault, of Caldwell, was employed by the South Orange Maplewood School District for nine years. She was released from the Essex County Correctional Facility in October after her $500,000 bail was posted and is awaiting trial.

Regarding Monday's lockdown, Aaron said that she was "very impressed with the students and staff". She felt, however, that parents who arrived outside of the high school while the lockdown was taking place "made it difficult". 

"I understand the parental desire", she noted, but cautioned that "in an emergency, it can be a hamper instead of a help".

When asked about her opinion on whether metal detectors should be installed at CHS, Aaron responded that she is "100% opposed" to the idea.

"I believe in creating and sustaining a school culture that is open, supportive, nurturing and challenging for students", said Aaron. "I don’t think the presence of metal detectors supports that culture".

Overall, Aaron said that the lockdown "helped us to further understand how to manage emergencies".

Top Photo: News vans occupied the streets surrounding CHS after the arrest of teacher Nicole Dufault in September.

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Lockdown Concluded at Columbia High School, Student Arrested

Update 7:51pm: Columbia High School in Maplewood was on code red lockdown today for nearly two hours. According to Maplewood Police Chief Robert Cimino, a student was arrested in a classroom for allegedly bringing brass knuckles to school. At a press conference, Chief Cimino said that a CHS staff member called police at approximately 12:30pm to report that a weapon was present in the school.

Chief Cimino added that there was "great cooperation of the students...(and)...great cooperation of the staff".

A lockdown alarm was activated in the school at approximately 12:40pm. The school remained in lockdown until 2:20pm. There were no reported injuries.

Acting Superintendent James Memoli sent an email to parents at approximately 5:00pm. "The safety of our staff and students remains our first priority", said Memoli.

According to a press release from the Maplewood Police Department, "anyone with information on the incident is urged to contact the Maplewood Police Department Youth Aid Bureau at 973-762-3400".

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Update 2:21pm: Lockdown has concluded. 

At approximately 2:20pm,  a Maplewood Police lieutenant told students and staff that the "lockdown is officially over".

At least one student is rumored to be in custody.

Healy told staff members that there would be an emergency meeting after school.
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Update 2:10pm: Columbia High School in Maplewood is under Code Red lockdown. A lockdown alarm went off in the school at approximately 12:41pm. Assistant Principal Michael Healy informed students that this is an "Active Shooter" lockdown.  

The alarm sounded for at least ten minutes.

South Orange and Maplewood Police conducted a security sweep of the building. Healy announced to students that there are 12 teams of officers. Officers entered classrooms at approximately 1:20pm and asked students and staff to remain in their classrooms. As of 1:49pm. Healy asked students and staff to remain in their classrooms until police officers unlock the classroom door. 

"Please stay in place", Assistant Principal Charles Ezell announced to students at approximately 1:30pm, adding that "everything is okay".  

The alarm went off during Period 7, which is a lunch period at the school. Several students were outside of the building when the siren sounded. CHS does not normally conduct lockdown drills during lunch periods.

As on 1:25pm: Columbia High School in Maplewood is under Code Red lockdown. A lockdown alarm went off in the school at approximately 12:41pm. PlaceNJ.com will continue to report live from inside the building.

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Acting Superintendent James Memoli sent the following email to parents during the lockdown:

A code red “lockdown” was ordered this afternoon at Columbia High School by the Maplewood Police Department as a precautionary measure.  All students are safe and everything is under control.  Additional details will be provided as soon as they are available. 


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Email from Acting Superintendent James Memoli after the lockdown:

Shortly before 1 p.m. today, a code red “lockdown” was ordered at Columbia High School. High school administration had been informed of a potential threat involving a CHS student and a former CHS student possibly involving weapons. The administration notified the Maplewood Police who then initiated the code red as a precautionary measure. South Orange Police were onsite to assist. The police conducted an organized search of the building and one student was apprehended. The police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this event. Code red procedures were followed with police going door to door to check all rooms before clearing the code red. Many students were outside the school because the lockdown began during a lunch period. Security guards and administrators were outside with the students. Nobody was harmed during this event. We appreciate the cooperation of the police departments, the staff, the students and the building administrators. Parents and guardians of our students can be assured that the school administration works closely with and cooperates fully with law enforcement during such an event. The safety of our staff and students remains our first priority.

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Update: 

The supervisor of security at CHS told PlaceNJ.com that "I hate that it happened, but the response was excellent". Read more here.

Columbia High School Principal Elizabeth Aaron criticized media coverage of the lockdown and the arrest of teacher Nicole Dufault. Read more here. 


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CHS Teacher Nicole Dufault Released on Bail

Columbia High School Language Arts teacher Nicole Dufault, who was charged in September with multiple counts of sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, has posted bail. 

NJ.com reports that Dufault was released from the Essex County Correctional Center in Newark on October 19. She was arrested on September 17.

Dufault, a 35 year old Caldwell resident, allegedly had sex with five students multiple times on school property and in her car during the 2013-14 school year and during the 2014 summer school. She pleaded not guilty. 

Her attorney, Timothy Smith, told Essex County Place that Dufault is "greatly relieved, particularly with regard to seeing her family", adding that she is "anxious to begin mounting her defense".

In an email to Essex County Place, Katherine Carter, the public information officer for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, said that Dufault "cannot have contact with the victims or the school".

Dufault remained on the list of CHS Language Arts faculty as of Wednesday.

This story will be updated.

Dufault's Caldwell condominium.

Police at Columbia High School on the day after the arrest.

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