Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Hib Investigation Disparities topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parents urge review after Dennis O'Brien reports disproportionate HIB findings; board says investigations are consistent
Summary
A parent asked the board to investigate why Dennis O'Brien Elementary (DBO) recorded 13 confirmed HIB incidents while other elementary schools reported none for the same period; board leaders said investigations are handled per law and suggested a community session to explain the process.
A Rockaway parent asked the board to launch an independent review of how the district investigates harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB) after data in the district’s safety report showed Dennis O’Brien Elementary School had 13 confirmed HIB incidents for a recent reporting period while the other four elementary schools had zero confirmed incidents for that same period.
Gracie Palomino, a Mount Pleasant Avenue resident who identified herself at the meeting as a community member concerned about implementation of the New Jersey Anti‑Bullying Bill of Rights, urged the board to "launch a thorough and transparent review of the HIB investigation process at Dennis O’Brien School" and to examine whether the law was being applied fairly.
Palomino said the data and parents’ accounts suggested HIB investigations at DBO might be “weaponized” against particular children and described a reported incident in which a parent said her child was called a racial slur and that the school later found the incident unfounded after an apology. She said the child was still deeply affected.
Board leaders responded that any confirmed HIB is too many and that the district aims to investigate allegations consistently and thoroughly. Superintendent Dr. Richard Corbett said HIB procedures can be complex and suggested the district could host a public information session similar to a previous HIB listening session to explain how investigations work. He told the commenter that the district would be willing to meet and walk through specific concerns in appropriate, confidential channels.
The Education Committee report included discussion of programs and supports — including a new Copeland Middle School intervention called "Cougar Climb," the nonprofit Center for Education and Counseling offering group counseling for at‑risk preteens, and a district emphasis on character education and social‑emotional learning — all cited by the superintendent and committee members as part of broader prevention efforts.
No formal board vote to open an audit or external review of DBO HIB investigations was recorded at the meeting; public commenters requested further action and the board suggested follow‑up and community outreach, including possibly repeating an explanatory session on how HIB investigations are conducted.
