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Kinnelon board hears rise in HIB reports and substance incidents; district plans training and parent outreach
Summary
Vinny Chivas told the board the school safety data system showed a spike in HIB reports at PRM and an increase in substance incidents at KHS; the district will post the full SSDS online, meet with counselors in September and pursue staff/parent training.
Vinny Chivas, the district’s supervisor of special projects, told the Kinnelon Board of Education on July 23 that the district’s School Safety Data System (SSDS) for 2023–24 showed mixed trends: declines in violence and vandalism but a notable rise in substance incidents and HIB reports at certain schools.
"If you look straight across the high school, there was 20 incidents in 2022–23. We dropped to 19 in 2023–24," Chivas said, then flagged a separate change: "Substance went from 2 incidents in 2022–23 to 12 in 2023–24." He also told the board that PRM’s total incidents rose from 6 to 18, a jump driven largely by multiple HIB reports involving a small number of students.
The report distinguishes between founded and unfounded HIB (harassment, intimidation and bullying) findings and is submitted to the state twice a year. Chivas said the SSDS report will be posted online "probably by the end of this week" so the public can review the full data and slides.
Board members pressed for context on what qualifies as an HIB and how the district investigates reports. Chivas explained the state definition and process: a principal forwards alleged incidents to an HIB investigator, who must investigate within 10 days and report findings to the principal and district administration. He noted that even unfounded reports can trigger local disciplinary measures under district policy.
The superintendent and other board members emphasized parental engagement and targeted interventions. The superintendent said many incidents "sometimes stem outside of school" and proposed a series of fall actions, including meetings with school counselors, outside speakers or training for students and forums to engage parents on technology and social‑media issues. Chivas said the district will also review training options for staff and consider bringing in outside resources.
What happens next: the board directed administration to post the SSDS report online, plan counselor and staff meetings in September, and bring back options for parent engagement and training at upcoming committee and board meetings.
