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Berkeley Heights officials outline bullying, social-media trends and school interventions
Summary
District counselors and principals told the board that single incidents reported via social media can meet the state'defined HIB threshold, and described programs and investigations aimed at preventing escalation. Board members pressed for clearer data and parent input.
The Berkeley Heights Board of Education heard a detailed briefing Wednesday on the district'wide Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) process, including how incidents tied to social media are documented and addressed.
Counselors and building administrators, led by Mountain Park principal John Moraso and Governor Livingston student assistance counselor Casey Nebas, told the board that New Jersey'defined HIB can be found after a single incident when it negatively affects a student's school day and access to resources. "If an act meets the criteria, it has a negative impact on a student's school day," Moraso said, describing the district's documentation system and the state reporting platform used to file HIBs.
Why it matters: Board members asked whether the district'self-assessment and HIB trend charts reflect real change or the reporting and investigation approach. Moraso and Nebas described multiple responses to reported incidents—peer mediation, counseling, schedule or transportation changes and disciplinary action if appropriate—and said the district prioritizes remediation and relationship building rather than only punishment.
Board members pressed for more clarity about the self-assessment scores that buildings submit to the state. "This is almost like a standardized test," Moraso said of the rubric; he added that counselors complete the June self-assessment using a state-provided rubric and sample documentation. Nebas said the school counseling teams perform classroom lessons and targeted small-group work, and that a growing share of HIB incidents originates in off-campus social media interactions.
Several trustees and the student representatives advocated for better labeling and presentation of charts to help parents and the public interpret the data. Trustee Mrs. Terrarero asked how other districts handle middle-school spikes; Moraso said middle school historically shows the highest volume of investigations and suggested extracurricular engagement and consistent counseling contact help reduce incidents over time. Nebas added that counselors run small groups to connect students struggling with anxiety or new-student integration.
The administration recommended continuing training with Union County anti-bullying specialists and an upcoming workshop with state attorneys and peer districts; it also flagged the district'wide use of programs such as "Feelgood Fridays," advisory lessons, suicide-prevention awareness and district-level restorative efforts.
Next steps: Trustees asked the administration to provide clearer parent-facing materials that explain what each score and intervention means and to return with a plan for incorporating parent feedback into HIB reviews.
