Mahwah schools report near-perfect HIB self-assessment scores; district details investigations, nurse visits and restraint reporting

The Mahwah Township Public School District reported high scores on its annual harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB) self-assessment and provided the board with student-safety metrics, including investigations and nurse visits.

Superintendent Dr. Dittura introduced the item and asked district staff to present the HIB self-assessment results. "Building-based school safety teams... meet to evaluate the building's performance on the rubrics applied by the department of ed," said Miss Rizzo, who presented the scoring process and results. The districtwide average was 77 out of a maximum 78 points.

The nut graf: the self-assessment is required by the New Jersey Department of Education and will be submitted for state review; the district said the department will either affirm or request amendments after reviewing the submission.

Most buildings scored at or near the maximum. According to the presentation, Mahwah High School self-scored 77 of 78, Ramapo Ridge Middle School 77 of 78, Joyce Kilmer Elementary 78 of 78, Betsy Ross 77 of 78, George Washington 77 of 78, and Lehi-meadows 78 of 78. The presenter explained the rubric's 0–3 scale for indicators and said building safety teams, which include staff and at least one parent representative, collect evidence that administrators review before final district submission.

District staff also reviewed longitudinal HIB investigation data. The presenter said the district recorded a total of 83 investigations, 26 of which were confirmed as meeting the statutory HIB criteria over the period reviewed. The presenter noted the COVID period created a noticeable dip in reported incidents because students were not in school during full lockdowns.

On procedures and timelines, Miss Rizzo said the district operates as a "non-discretionary" district: once the term harassment, intimidation, or bullying is invoked, an investigation opens and is completed within statutory timelines. "All cases were investigated within the timeline set forth by the law," she said.

The superintendent and staff also briefed the board on related safety reporting and health services. The district told the board it logged more than 20,000 visits to school nurses in the 2024–25 school year for routine health checks and monitoring (height/weight, blood pressure, scoliosis screening, vaccination status, etc.). The nursing service plan will appear on a future agenda as required documentation of the nurses' work.

The presentation included a state-mandated report on the use of physical restraint. District staff explained that restraint is used only when a student poses a risk to themselves or others, and only trained staff perform it. The presentation covered the reporting window (July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2025), but the transcript of the meeting did not specify how many restraints occurred during that period.

Board members asked how the district communicates HIB definitions and processes to families; Miss Rizzo said administrators address the topic during back-to-school events, in weekly building communications, and via short informational "nuggets" distributed through the school year.

District staff said they will submit the self-assessment to the Department of Education the following day and that the department typically has several months to review and request amendments. The presenter noted that in past review cycles Mahwah had not been required to change its self-assessment scores.

The board did not take an immediate vote on the self-assessment during the portion of the meeting where the item was presented; staff said the submission to the state would follow the presentation and routine review.

The district also discussed next-year goals tied to NJTSS (the New Jersey Tiered System of Supports) and in-district safety team training for administrators and safety-team members.