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District presents annual HIB report showing mixed trends in confirmed incidents
Summary
District staff presented the State-required violence and vandalism (HIB) report for reporting period 2 (Jan'Jun), noting a small rise in confirmed incidents in that half-year but a year-end net decrease; administrators described remediation steps and a suite of trainings used across schools.
At the July 31 meeting the North Brunswick Township School District presented its state-required annual report on violence, vandalism and HIB (harassment, intimidation and bullying).
A district presenter said the report follows the State Department of Education's two reporting periods and compared this year's reporting period 2 (Jan. 1'Jun. 30) with the prior year. The presenter told the board that reporting period 2 showed a slight increase in total incidents, which include violence, vandalism, substances, weapons incidents and confirmed HIB; the presenter noted, however, that the district's year-end total showed a decrease compared with the prior school year.
Specific figures given to the board: confirmed HIB in reporting period 2 numbered 35 this year compared with 32 in reporting period 2 last year; the presenter said "the total number of HIB confirmed this year was 52, last year was 48." Staff also reported that 25 submitted HIB claims were preliminarily determined not to proceed because they did not meet the criteria for HIB; disciplinary or remedial actions (temporary removal, loss of privileges, counseling, behavioral assessments and schedule modifications) were enacted in those cases.
The presenter emphasized prevention efforts: the district reported providing HIB trainings and programs (some offered through the New Jersey Law Center and others internally), an anti-bullying information site for parents, a dedicated school-safety and HIB site for staff, and an updated HIB FAQ for parents and staff. The presenter said the district front-loaded more trainings in reporting period 1 (July'Dec) this year to be proactive.
The presentation was placed on the board agenda and will be posted on the district website for public review. Board members asked no substantive follow-up questions at the meeting; the presentation closed with an acknowledgement that the district would continue trainings and monitoring.
What this means: confirmed HIB counts in the half-year comparison rose slightly but the district reports a net reduction for the full year; the district says it continues to use counseling, schedule modifications and targeted trainings as its primary responses to incidents.
