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Manchester Township School District reports fewer violence incidents in first half of 2024–25; outlines training and supports
Summary
District administrators told the board the first-half 2024–25 safety report shows a decline in reported violence incidents and described planned multiagency summer trainings and increased supports; details on HIB counts, substance incidents and a single inadvertent weapon incident were provided.
The Manchester Township School District received its midyear school-safety briefing at the June board meeting. Administrator Mr. Branson presented first-half 2024–25 figures and described steps the district will take over the summer to build staff and student supports.
Branson said the district recorded eight incidents classified as violence across its buildings during the reporting period, down from the previous year. He reported zero vandalism incidents in school buildings, three confirmed substance incidents, and one incident in which a student inadvertently brought a knife to school; police were notified in that case. The report also listed seven confirmed HIB (harassment, intimidation and bullying) investigations and 28 alleged HIB reports, and explained that “alleged” reports are investigated but do not count toward the confirmed total until substantiated.
The presentation identified building-level patterns: Ridgeway had 17 investigations logged in the period. Branson said many incidents occur in unstructured settings — playgrounds and on buses — and described district work to add structure, use assemblies and counseling interventions, and continue partnerships under the district’s memorandum of agreement (MOA) with local police. He said the police will run a multiagency summer training at the high school across three Wednesdays, rotating officers and involving EMS and fire to create a larger-scale exercise.
The district also described plans to use the state-sponsored NJ4S program (noted as a school-safety/mental-health support program) and school-based student-assistant counselors to provide assemblies and additional supports next year.
The board was told a second-half report will be presented when the district reconvenes in September. No formal board action on the safety report was recorded; the presentation was informational.
