Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Hib Self Assessment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
District reports average HIB self‑assessment score of 71; eight investigations founded since last meeting
Summary
Dr. Donado told the board that the district's 2024–25 HIB self‑assessment showed school scores ranging in the mid‑60s to mid‑70s with an average of 71; administrators also reported 28 HIB investigations completed since Sept. 18, eight of which were founded and led to counseling, referrals, and disciplinary steps.
Dr. Donado presented the Elizabeth Public Schools' 2024–25 HIB (harassment, intimidation, and bullying) self‑assessment at the Oct. 23 board meeting, framing the report as the district's annual submission to the New Jersey Department of Education under the Anti‑Bullying Bill of Rights.
The presenter reviewed the eight core elements the state rubric assesses — programs and approaches, training on HIB policy, staff instruction, curriculum integration, HIB personnel roles, incident reporting procedures, investigation procedures, and reporting processes — and then read per‑school rubric results. Examples cited in the presentation included scores such as School 13 (76), School 5 (74), several schools in the high‑60s, and an overall district average of 71. The presenter said every school scored at or above the threshold described in the rubric and characterized the results as evidence of consistent progress from the prior year.
Board members and administrators emphasized follow‑up work: strengthening school climate, continuing family engagement, increasing staff training, and ensuring timely investigations and reporting to the superintendent and board as required by statute and policy. The superintendent later reported operational HIB investigation outcomes for the period Sept. 18–Oct. 7: 28 investigations completed and eight founded. Interventions described included skill‑development lessons, counseling sessions, outpatient mental‑health referrals, classroom changes, in‑school and out‑of‑school discipline, parent conferences, outside agency referrals, and ongoing monitoring.
What to watch for: the presenter described investigation timelines and reporting obligations required by state law — investigations completed within 10 days and superintendent notification within two school days after investigation completion. The board was told summaries were provided in advance so members could make a written decision if needed on a previously reported case from the Sept. 18 meeting.
Quote: "The self assessment results show strong overall performance across eight core elements," Dr. Donado said, noting an average score in the low 70s and work ahead to strengthen school climate.
The board did not take a substantive policy vote on the self‑assessment itself at this meeting; administrators said final assurances and the submission to the NJDOE follow standard procedures after board presentation.
