Hopewell Valley accepts mid‑year student safety report as parents press board on bias and harassment

At its March 17 meeting, the Hopewell Valley Regional Board of Education accepted the district’s mid‑year Student Safety Data System (SSDS) report and heard extended public concern about a recent rise in harassment, intimidation and bias incidents across grade levels.

The SSDS presentation covered September–December data, discipline counts, and how incidents are categorized and reported to the state. "We strive to create safe, welcoming, and respectful environments for all," said Corey, a district presenter, summarizing the district’s approach. The district said it continued to report incidents to the state and to document restraint and seclusion separately from incident totals.

The nut graf: parents and residents used the public‑comment portion of the meeting to press the board for a more visible response after swastikas and racial slurs were reported in school buildings and on desks. The superintendent and school leaders described training,…