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Dr. O'Leary: District reports 40% drop in violence incidents, cites added security and counseling; $90,000 fitness grant announced
Summary
Dr. O'Leary told the Edison Township Board of Education the district saw a 40% reduction in violence and vandalism incidents year over year, credited building staff and additional security guards, and said the district will combine discipline with counseling; staff also announced a $90,000 National Fitness Campaign award for outdoor fitness equipment.
The Edison Township Board of Education heard a violence-and-vandalism update in which Dr. O'Leary said the district recorded a 40% reduction in incidents compared with the prior year and attributed the decline to building administrators, teachers and newly deployed security staff.
"This is actually a 40% reduction in the incidents from last year to this year," Dr. O'Leary said, and added that the board allowed the district to "invest in additional security guards" under Mr. Cassan to monitor hotspot locations such as bathrooms, the cafeteria and breezeways. He said the district will address incidents through both disciplinary measures and counseling supports.
Administrators also outlined other operational items the district plans to bring to the action meeting. A staff member summarized facilities and transportation requests, including purchases of new cafeteria tables for Edison High School and replacement motor-pool vehicles (a cargo van and a Ford 350 with a tow package to pull band trailers). The district said these are standard procurement items on a relatively light November agenda.
In grants news, staff said the district is receiving a $90,000 award from the National Fitness Campaign to install outdoor fitness equipment that will be open to students, staff and members of the public. A district communicator included a link to the campaign product in the executive content and praised Mr. Dacoco and Dr. Huss for helping secure the award alongside Mr. Toth.
Superintendent Dr. Adarali and other administrators previewed curriculum items including two current curriculum agenda items, planned student trips (a Philadelphia Zoo visit and a First Robotics district event in March, with about 20 JP Stevens students participating), and continuing professional development opportunities for staff.
The board moved next to other agenda and public-comment items and ultimately adjourned to a confidential privileged session without an anticipated return to public session.
