Closter superintendent details HIB counts and district safety work, urges community survey participation

At the Jan. 22, 2026 Closter Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Vincent McHale presented Student Safety Data System (SSDS) Period 1 reporting and summarized the district’s ongoing safety and prevention work. According to minutes, Hillside Elementary’s reporting included two alleged HIB matters (minutes language varied); Tenakill Middle School reported three total incidents, three confirmed HIB matters (of 11 alleged reports) and four other incidents that resulted in removal. Mr. McHale said both schools ran related prevention programs and trainings (five at Tenakill, four at Hillside) totaling 42 programs districtwide.

Principals described recent safety preparations: Hillside Principal Dianne Smith recounted a coordinated safety drill conducted with advance team review, a post‑drill debrief, and a positive assessment from the Closter Police Department praising staff communication. Tenakill Principal Christine Cipollini reported certification and recertification of the Code Blue CPR team and continued collaboration with CPD on security drills.

The district will administer the New Jersey School Climate Improvement (NJ SCI) surveys to gather student, staff and family perspectives (student administration window 02/02–02/13/2026). Mr. McHale also informed families about the new statewide e‑bike law effective Jan. 19, 2026 and asked that students under 15 not ride e‑bikes to school.

The board took no public votes on policy changes to safety at this meeting, but scheduled follow‑up outreach and data collection via the NJ SCI survey and a parent series on resilience.