'Terroristic threats' under investigation Police take equipment from former Holmdel school administrators BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer Holmdel police have confirmed that they seized computer equipment at the Wall Township home of former school district athletic director Laurie Cancalosi and former Holmdel High School Principal Cheryl Swider. Detective Sgt. James Smythe said that a search warrant was executed Thursday night at their Duce Avenue home. He didn't offer further details as to why the computers were taken, other than to say that "there were messages that contained terroristic threats and harassment." Smythe declined to speak about who the messages were directed at and referred all other inquiries on the matter to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office. Calls to Assistant Prosecutor Peter Warshaw were not returned as of press time. Superintendent of Schools Barbara Duncan would confirm only that the Prosecutor's Office and Holmdel Police are jointly investigating the matter. "Other than that, I really can't say anything about what is going on," Duncan said. Toward the end of their tenures, the relationship between the two former school district employees and the teachers' union and public became very contentious. Cancalosi and Swider were both let go from their jobs in the summer following a strong backlash from students and staff, who felt that the pair had become vindictive and ineffective at doing their jobs. The decision to remove the two administrators was made by the board on Duncan's recommendation just days after she took over the school district. It is believed the problems started when the high school's head football coach, Joseph O'Connor, quit midway through the 2005 football season after the board reinstated a player who the coach removed from the team for disciplinary reasons. Following the resignation of O'Connor, and later on the rest of his staff, Swider took over as head coach, enduring a miserable finish to the season and minimal support from teachers and residents. After the season, administrators and those district employees who had a stake in the football program butted heads, and near the end of the school year, 43 staff members were transferred to different schools, many of whom the Holmdel Township Education Association (HTEA) contended were retaliatory. O'Connor and others who supported him were among the group of faculty members transferred. The controversial move spurred a walkout by students in protest. In June of last year, the HTEA issued a vote of no confidence toward Cancalosi and Swider. Cancalosi was let go and Swider was moved to a position as the district's athletic trainer, a position she had previously held. In the end, again on Duncan's recommendation, the board decided to reverse the transfers that it previously approved.