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District reports decline in confirmed bullying incidents, outlines new supports
Summary
The Glen Rock Public School District’s biannual student-safety presentation reported a downward trend in confirmed harassment, intimidation and bullying incidents and described new supervisory and counseling practices. Officials said building teams will use data and restorative approaches to reduce incidents.
Stella Fortuna, the district’s anti-bullying coordinator, told the school board during its Jan. 7 meeting that confirmed harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB) incidents are trending down in the January–June reporting period and across the full year.
Fortuna said each school must appoint a school anti-bullying specialist; this year the district added two new specialists, Kristen Hyde and Amy Lisonbee, who must complete six hours of training covering the Anti-Bullying Rights Act and investigative best practices. She said specialists will meet with the coordinator at least twice per school year and provide turnkey resources to building staff.
Fortuna reviewed student-safety metrics and explained that while a narrowly defined “incident total” rose in the January–June reporting period, combining that metric with “other incidents leading to removal” produces a downward trend. She credited building-level administrators—identified in her presentation as Ferreira, Orlando and Morelli—with analyzing patterns and adjusting responses accordingly.
Based on the data, she described two new practices: a supervised in-school suspension space for serious incidents designed to keep students on site with academic work and reflection, and a redesigned supervision model that places staff in higher‑traffic, higher‑need areas to prevent incidents. Fortuna also said the district has expanded counseling access through a wellness center so students involved in incidents can receive support and restorative programming rather than solely punitive responses.
Fortuna emphasized social‑emotional programming, saying the district uses the RULER method in advisory periods, counseling and community circles at elementary schools to help teach students emotional regulation. She recommended that school climate and safety teams review data at least twice a year to identify patterns and inform interventions.
The presentation was followed by thanks from Superintendent Doctor Charleston and board members, who noted appreciation for declining data and the district’s focus on both safety and student supports. The district said it will continue reporting these metrics twice annually as required by state law.
