East Brunswick board reviews HIB self-assessment, safety data and Hipster reporting; public urges granular data and restorative practices

East Brunswick school officials told the Board of Education on Sept. 18 that the district again scored the maximum points on its school-level HIB (harassment, intimidation, bullying) self-assessment, and they reviewed student-safety reporting for Jan. 1–June 30, 2025.

Danielle Blaylock, identified by the administration as supervisor of student services, explained that the HIB self‑assessment measures whether schools comply with required procedures and can provide documentary backup for compliance — not an absolute count of incidents. "What the self assessment actually assesses is whether or not the schools are following the law," she said, adding that Hipster, the district's online platform, centralizes investigative documentation.

District staff walked the board through categories used by the state’s student-safety data system: violence (assaults, threats), vandalism (including false 911 calls), substances (primarily vape pens and THC), weapons and HIB (confirmed and alleged). For the reporting period the district saw primarily vape/THC incidents and two weapon reports; both weapons were 3D‑printed knives at Hughes, one produced for the student's own use and one to resell.

Officials emphasized the investigative and appeals timeline: any observed potential HIB must be reported immediately; a written report is required within two days for verbal reports; the investigation is to start within one day and be concluded within 10 days; reports are reviewed by district staff and presented to the board no later than the next meeting; appeals are available within 60 days to the district, then to the commissioner and, in bias cases, to the Division on Civil Rights within 180 days.

The district noted year‑to‑year declines in both alleged and confirmed HIBs but framed that as “progress, not success,” and said it will continue prevention work including peer‑to‑peer supports, the Displaced Students Group, anti‑bias training and targeted climate activities.

Board members and the public pressed for more detailed data. Questions included whether Hipster can filter incidents by distinguishing characteristic (race, religion, body image), by school and by location within a school (cafeteria, passing time, bus), and whether non‑HIB code‑of‑conduct incidents are tracked. Staff said Hipster can be used to extract hot‑spot and subgroup data and offered to design customized reports; they cautioned that some counseling notes and confidential case details cannot be publicly posted.

Several public speakers said their children experienced repeated incidents (some alleging delayed administrative response) and urged more transparent tracking, more restorative‑justice interventions and faster follow‑up for victims. One parent cited Churchill Junior High as a hot spot and asked the district to connect cohort academic readiness to incidents and removals.

What happens next: staff proposed collaborating with board members to define a quarterly summary that preserves confidentiality while giving the board and community meaningful trend information. The board asked district staff to present draft reporting options and to consider a proposal for a periodic summary of safety‑climate team findings.

Representative quote: "Hipster allows us also to identify where the incidents occur... so it allows us to target resources," a district presenter said.

The board closed the public portion and moved on to other agenda items.