District presents student‑safety report: marijuana, alcohol incidents and new prevention steps

The East Windsor Regional School District reported its required student‑safety (SSDS) figures for report period 2 (January–June) and summarized the district’s Anti‑Bullying Bill of Rights self‑assessment at the Oct. 14 board meeting.

Lauren O’Brien, the district’s supervisor of counseling and anti‑bullying coordinator, told the board that violence and vandalism counts were concentrated at Hightstown High School and Kreps Middle School and that substance incidents for report period 2 included marijuana at both buildings and alcohol at the middle school. "At the high school report period two, we had 21 incidents, and at Kreps we had 16," O’Brien said.

O’Brien said weapons reports for report period 2 were zero, but noted one report‑period‑one incident involving a pocket knife that was handled with conversations involving students and parents. The presentation also listed HIB (harassment, intimidation and bullying) cases that were investigated and, where substantiated, included counseling and follow‑up.

To address trends, the district is standardizing consequences across grade levels, expanding restorative‑practice options and integrating the Navigate360 social‑emotional program. "Students, in addition to their academic work, would work through some of the 360 modules," O’Brien said, describing classroom and reflective assignments tied to in‑school suspension.

The district has increased counseling staff at the middle school (two counselors per grade level), in‑class and pull‑in supports, and student‑assistance counselors who follow up on substance incidents. Administrators also reported installing vape sensors at the middle and high schools and scheduling vaping‑prevention assemblies and a parent presentation.

Board members asked for additional context: how Stop It reports are publicized, whether data could be shown year‑over‑year and what the state per‑capita incident rate is for comparison. O’Brien said Stop It is promoted with flyers, posters and email and that the anti‑bullying specialists and principals submit building grades; she agreed to provide prior‑year comparisons and the state per‑capita figures used in annual performance reports.

Board members also pressed for clarity on consistency of consequences and whether changes related to the district’s equity review. The superintendent and O’Brien said the goal is developmentally appropriate but consistent application across buildings and noted that building administrators and assistant principals coordinate enforcement.

The presentation concluded with the district’s plan to run a Rutgers/Department of Education school‑climate improvement survey for grades 3–12 (surveying students, staff and families) and to continue using Stop It and other data to shape prevention work. "We’re trying to get out ahead of some of the situations," O’Brien said, describing counseling and mediation as part of follow‑up to incidents.

The board requested follow‑up materials showing a breakdown of the ABR core elements by building and year‑over‑year data to assess trends and comparative context with state numbers.