SAYREVILLE -- The seven students who have been charged in connection with the sexual assault and hazing of their football teammates will be barred from returning to school, the district says.

"While we are legally restricted from speaking about individual students, it would be fair to say that any student arrested in connection with the matter involving the football program is suspended from Sayreville War Memorial High School," said school board attorney Jonathan Busch, of the Busch Law Group. "We are in the process of arranging for an alternative education, pending further investigation."

The seven football players who were charged range in ages from 15 to 17. Because they are juveniles, their names have not been released. They allegedly sexually hazed four fellow students in locker room incidents that spanned 10 days in late September. Charges were announced late Friday night after authorities fanned out around town to arrest the seven juveniles.

Kevin Ciak, the president of the Sayreville Board of Education, said he hopes that tomorrow's first school day since the charges were announced won't be unusual for Sayreville students.

"One of the things you try to do in any type of crisis is to try to return to a sense of normalcy as soon as possible," Ciak said.

Monday will be a half-day of school, which has long been on the schedule. Teachers will have a day for professional development.

Ciak said school counselors will be available for students who need them.

Some students, Ciak said, have expressed concern about being contacted via social media.

"Just general comments, even if they’re not meant in a serious way, even in jest, are very hurtful at this time," Ciak said.

Tom Cannon, whose son, a sophomore, is in the marching band, attended a vigil Sunday night in Kennedy Park for bullying victims. He said he's hoping things in Sayreville go back to normal soon for the students.

"They're staying strong," he said, but they're "having a hard time focusing."

Superintendent Richard Labbe said Monday will be business as usual for the kids, but for the staff, they'll be on "high alert" for signs of trauma. They'll be on particular lookout for freshmen on the football team.

"The focus is on the kids," Labbe said.

The school district has been assigned a new school resource officer and has put out ads for two part-time security officers, Labbe said. The goal is to make sure all students at the high school feel safe, Labbe said

The Middlesex County prosecutor still hasn't given the school board the go-ahead to conduct its own investigation, Ciak said, so the fate of the coaching staff is still an open question. Head coach George Najjar previously told NJ Advance Media that he, too, was uncertain of his status.

According to Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey, three of the students were charged with aggravated sexual assault, aggravated criminal sexual contact, conspiracy to commit aggravated criminal sexual contact, criminal restraint, and hazing for engaging in an act of sexual penetration upon one of the juvenile victims. One of those defendants and four others were charged with various counts, including aggravated assault, conspiracy, aggravated criminal sexual contact, hazing and riot by participating in the attack of some of the victims.

Under state law, school officials can immediately suspend students who violate the code of conduct for up to 10 days in the short-term with only a few procedural hurdles, including an informal hearing to get the student's side of the story, but even that requirement is not rigid. If a suspension lasts more than 10 days, the students have a right to a disciplinary hearing. That disciplinary hearing can happen before the school board.

A formal hearing for a long-term suspension would give students the right to cross-examine witnesses and provide their own evidence and testimony. Students also have the right to appeal long-term suspensions.

Efforts to expel students from school would result in more hearings. The district did not say whether it was seeking longer-term suspensions or expulsions.

The district still has to educate students who have been suspended. That can happen on school grounds or off, including at the district offices. Suspended students are often taught by tutors.

Brian Amaral may be reached at bamaral@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @bamaral44. Find NJ.com on Facebook.