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Glen Ridge reports few HIB confirmations, low use of physical restraints; district expands restorative and peer-support programs
Summary
District staff reported very low use of physical restraint (two brief incidents) and two confirmed HIB incidents during the Jan—June reporting period, while emphasizing expanded restorative programs, peer mediation and training to address conflicts.
District student services staff presented the semiannual student safety data and HIB self-assessment results, reporting low incidence of the most serious interventions and outlining prevention and training programs.
"Last year in reporting period 2 ... we only had 2 incidents where we had to implement physical restraint," Jack DeWitt said, describing two short-duration restraints at Linden Avenue School applied only when a student posed imminent harm to self or others. DeWitt noted the district has no use of seclusion or mechanical restraints and that trained staff (about 39 people) provide personal-control technique training in-house.
The district reported two confirmed HIB (harassment, intimidation, bullying) incidents in the reporting period; both were verbal, intentional and included protected-class elements (race/color/ancestry/origin in one case; disability in others). DeWitt said appropriate actions were taken but did not list disciplinary specifics to avoid identifying students because of low counts.
Administrators described 10 alleged HIB investigations in one school that were not confirmed under HIB criteria and reported a total across the school year of 19 alleged HIBs with 2 confirmed (one additional late incident will appear on the next reporting cycle). Restorative practices and targeted training are used as alternatives or complements to suspension for many incidents.
The presentation listed district training and programs: 34 trainings and 29 programs during reporting period 2 (67 trainings and 70 programs for the year). The high school detailed peer mediator (juniors) and peer leader (seniors) programs that work with middle-school cohorts and SEL cycle classes; coaches receive preseason training on HIB reporting and expectations; cultural events and student leadership of programming were cited as climate supports.
DeWitt also reviewed the annual HIB self-assessment (eight core areas) and preliminary building scores (Central, Forest, Linden, Glen Ridge High School ~77; Ridgewood Avenue 66). The district will certify and submit the self-assessment to the state this week and expects official grades later.
Student-services staff described two new in-district programs: BALANCE (a high-intensity counseling program designed to integrate academic and social-emotional supports within the school day) and an autism behavior-support program now operating at the high school. DeWitt said BALANCE includes a school social worker who participates in IEP development to better coordinate academic and therapeutic supports.
Ending: The board asked procedural questions about peer-mediator referrals and success metrics; staff said mediations are a supervised option used after adult-led interventions and that outcomes vary case by case. No board action was taken on safety policy at the meeting.
