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Toms River board approves student-safety report showing drop in incidents
Summary
The board approved the Student Safety Data System report for Jan. 1'June 30, 2024, which the district presenter said showed a 21% decrease in reportable offenses and a 41% drop in confirmed harassment, intimidation and bullying. The vote carried on a roll call.
The Board of Education of the Toms River Regional Schools on Nov. 1 approved the district's Student Safety Data System (SSDS) report for Jan. 1'June 30, 2024, after a presentation by district staff summarizing reported incidents and confirmed findings.
The presenter, identified in the transcript as Thomas, told the board the district recorded 278 total incidents in the reporting period, including 131 acts of violence, 24 incidents of property damage, nine weapons reports, 62 substance-abuse incidents and 52 confirmed HIB (harassment, intimidation and bullying) cases. Thomas said the figures represented a 21% decrease in reportable offenses and a 41% decrease in confirmed HIB compared with the district's November 2023 report.
Kidney moved to approve the SSDS report and Howe seconded. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with the members recorded as voting in favor. The board's recorded vote showed unanimous yes responses from the members present.
Board members and presenters said the district is using partnerships with local organizations (the Health and Wellness Coalition, YMCA, Effective School Solutions and the Toms River Police Department) and programs such as responsive classrooms and positive behavioral support systems to address student conduct and mental health. The presenter said staff review SSDS data monthly to guide interventions and that the district emphasizes social-emotional learning and character-building programs.
The approval requires no immediate operational change; board members noted continued attention to implementation details and monitoring. The board moved on to other routine business after the vote.
