The district reported high marks on the 2024'25 Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights (ABR) self-assessment, with building teams routinely scoring at the 'exceeds requirements' level on the state rubric. Corinne Rutt, the district's supervisor of counseling and anti-bullying coordinator, presented the district's scores and described the state's rubric and scoring process.

Rutt said each school's School Safety Team used the state's eight-element rubric and that a district total well above the state's "meets expectations" threshold is evidence the district is implementing programs and activities beyond the minimum. The state rubric uses component scores of 0'1; a combined maximum on the district's report is 78 points; a score of 50 represents meeting expectations.

In discussion, administrators and board members said Hopewell Valley has a culture of reporting incidents as HIB (Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying) to ensure students receive supports and oversight from school and, when necessary, the state. Board members and staff discussed the challenge of public misunderstanding about the difference between conflicts and events meeting the statutory HIB definition, and suggested the district conduct additional community education to explain statutory definitions and the district's disciplinary and support practices.

Several board members and guests emphasized that whether a particular incident meets the statutory HIB definition does not determine whether the district will take disciplinary or restorative actions; administrators said routine discipline and supports proceed while HIB determinations are finalized and reported.

Rutt and other staff described school-based supports including assemblies, character education, peer leadership and a trial Tier 2 social-emotional learning program at elementary schools. The district noted it will continue to refine training and calibration among anti-bullying specialists to support consistent application of the rubric across buildings.