An Ocean County, N.J., father says he was barred from attending his son’s high school graduation ceremony this week following a lengthy dispute that began with a disagreement over the student’s role on the football team.
As reported by NJ.com, Point Pleasant Borough’s school superintendent defended the district’s decision, saying the father was banned due to “multiple instances of inappropriate conduct” toward multiple staff members.
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An Ocean County, N.J., father says he was barred from attending his son’s high school graduation ceremony this week following a lengthy dispute that began with a disagreement over the student’s role on the football team.
As reported by NJ.com, Point Pleasant Borough’s school superintendent defended the district’s decision, saying the father was banned due to “multiple instances of inappropriate conduct” toward multiple staff members.
Michael Ollendorf had said earlier that he is contesting the superintendent’s version but will comply with the graduation ban, watching the Point Pleasant Borough High School’s outdoor graduation ceremony Wednesday from the public sidewalk or while standing in the bed of a pickup truck on the street.
Ollendorf also said he had no involvement with a social media post saying there would be a protest at the ceremony over his absence.
“I don’t condone it. I don’t want the graduation ruined for anyone, including my son,” Ollendorf told NJ Advance Media.
Ollendorf was barred from school district property by Point Pleasant superintendent Adam Angelozzi following a series of disputes dating back to 2023 centering on his son’s playing time on the football team, according to Point Pleasant Patch.
In April, Ollendorf requested an exception to the ban so he could attend his son’s graduation, but Angelozzi declined to grant it, saying in a letter “you will not be permitted to be present on school property for the graduation ceremony.”
"The District’s decision in this instance was based on multiple instances of inappropriate conduct over a period of time directed towards and against multiple staff members,” Angelozzi wrote in a statement to NJ Advance Media.
“The District remains committed to following all applicable laws, policies, and regulations in its decisions and actions, as we have done in this matter. The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our top priorities,” Angelozzi wrote.
A police report shows Ollendorf was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct following the fourth game of the 2023-24 football season after he became irate and started yelling and cursing at the football coach and other school officials, Point Pleasant Patch reported.
He later pleaded guilty to disturbing the peace and was banned from attending football games, though that ban was was later lifted, the news outlet reported.
Separately, Angelozzi filed a police report last fall accusing Ollendorf of threatening the high school’s principal and himself, according to Patch.
Though no charges were filed against Ollendorf, the superintendent eventually banned him from all school property.
Anyone banned from attending a public high school graduation ceremony has the option of appealing to the state’s education commissioner, who can issue a ruling after a hearing by an administrative law judge, state Department of Education spokesperson Mike Yaple said, as reported by NJ.com.
However, Ollendorf said he decided not to appeal.
“I can’t find an attorney that will go up against the school,” he said.
