Galloway Township reports fewer confirmed HIB cases; district presents SSDS figures

Miss Burgess, the district director of student services, presented the Student Safety Data System report for reporting period 1 (Sept.–Dec. 2024), saying the district logged nine incidents of violence, one incident of vandalism, two substance offenses and zero weapons incidents during that period.

She told the board that 11 investigations met the statutory criteria for harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB) and were confirmed; an additional 18 alleged HIB reports were fully investigated and did not meet the HIB standard, and 16 incidents resulted in preliminary determinations. Burgess stressed that all 45 incidents were handled according to district policy and code of conduct regardless of classification and that supports and interventions were provided to students involved.

Burgess said the district ran 107 trainings and 155 programs during the four-month reporting window and attributed a year-over-year drop in HIB cases to those tier-1 supports. She also reviewed which staff served as HIB investigators at each building and listed the disciplinary responses and proactive interventions used to improve school climate.

On the HIB self-assessment scores for the 2023–24 school year, Burgess said each school’s subtotal contributed to a district average score of 75. She reminded the board that the maximum possible score was 78, and that the state computes the district average from school-level self-assessments submitted earlier.

The board moved to affirm the HIB determination reports later in the meeting (item 10.1), and the motion passed on roll call.