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Student safety report: confirmed HIB cases fall while marijuana incidents increase at HHS
Summary
District anti-bullying coordinator Lauren O'Brien reported a decrease in substantiated harassment, intimidation and bullying but an increase in substance incidents for Sept–Dec 2025; high school substance incidents were reported as marijuana and involved 18 unique students among 28 incidents.
Lauren O'Brien, the district's supervisor of counseling and anti‑bullying coordinator, presented the Student Safety Data report for reporting period one (Sept.–Dec. 2025), a twice‑yearly Department of Education requirement.
O'Brien described the categories required by the DOE: violence, vandalism, substances, weapons and confirmed HIB cases. She said HIB (harassment, intimidation and bullying) confirmed incidents were down districtwide compared with the prior year but that substance incidents increased, concentrated in the middle and high school populations.
Reported counts presented to the board included: at the high school, four incidents of violence, three incidents of vandalism, 28 substance incidents and one weapons incident; at Creps (middle school), 10 incidents of violence, three vandalism, two substances and one weapons incident; Drew reported two violence incidents and one HIB‑confirmed case; EMK and Rogers reported no reportable incidents during the period. O'Brien said the 28 high‑school substance incidents represented 18 unique students, indicating several repeat incidents.
When asked what was meant by "substances," O'Brien said she usually provides specifics and, that evening, clarified: "All of the incidents that I've reported tonight are marijuana." She described the district's response: assistant principals work with counselors on discipline and reflection, the Student Assistance Counselor (SAC) automatically engages for substance incidents and provides prevention, groups and referrals, and school climate and safety teams use data to tailor lessons and interventions.
Board members pressed for more frequent reporting and preventive measures. O'Brien said she provides a monthly report to the board and that the district monitors related data weekly; she described SAC preventative work (classroom lessons, assemblies, group work and family referrals) and said repeat students receive additional supports and family outreach.
A public commenter raised concerns about vape detectors and an incident his daughter experienced; the superintendent said IT and administrators would follow up with the commenter. No additional formal actions were taken on the report that evening; the board will receive a second report covering Jan.–June later in the year as required.
