Schools
Board of Education Issues Report on Vandalism, Harassment, Bullying
The incident investigations took place between September 1, 2011 through January 1, 2012.
The released its bi-annual Violence, Vandalism, Substance Abuse, and Harassment Intimidation & Bullying (HIB) Report at Thursday night's board meeting.
The bi-annual reporting, which is required under the New Jersey Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights, reflects data within specific categories compiled from September 1, 2011 through January 1, 2012.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Miceli said the district reported three confirmed incidents of violence, one incident of substance abuse and seven confirmed incidents of harassment, intimidation and bullying.
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While the district conducted a total of 20 harassment, intimidation and bullying investigations to date in all four of its schools, only seven were substantiated.
Although school districts do not report on the specific details of investigations, Miceli said there hasn't been a single dominant category with respect to the nature of the seven confirmed incidents.
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"There has been one with respect to gender, one with respect to race, two for disability and three for other distinguishing characteristics," Miceli said.
Investigations into the seven cases were handled by the Anti-Bullying Specialists appointed in each of the district schools. Miceli said the type of discipline issued as a result of the investigations ranges from detention to counseling to suspension in or out of school.
One of the reasons for the higher number of harassment, intimidation and bullying reports in many New Jersey school districts is due to the extensive nature of new anti-bullying laws enacted this year and newly defined criteria as to what constitutes bulling.
Like many school districts, New Providence School District was prepared for the new HIB laws through extensive training for staff, parents and students throughout the year, Miceli said.
"To date, we have had professional development for all of our staff prior to the school year as well as on our professional development day on Oct. 10," Miceli said. "We have had various assemblies in each of our schools, various parents meetings, and ongoing character education."
