Board hears student-safety report: 15 incidents districtwide, three affirmed HIB cases

At a public hearing Sept. 26 the New Providence Board of Education reviewed the district's Student Safety Data System report for Reporting Period 2 (Jan. 1–June 30, 2024).

Assistant Superintendent Joseph Uglialoro presented the district summary: "We had three (3) affirmed incidents of HIB, zero incidents of weapons possession, three incidents of violence, two incidents of vandalism (theft less than $10), four incidents of substance abuse," and a total of 15 cases district-wide. He reported that the High School had three investigations with one affirmed, the Middle School had seven investigations with one affirmed, Salt Brook had two investigations with one affirmed, and Allen W. Roberts had three investigations with zero affirmed. "All of our investigations for Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying were completed within ten days as the law requires," Uglialoro said.

Uglialoro named the investigators at each school (Mr. Crisitello at the High School, Mrs. Wittenburg at the Middle School, Mrs. Kwiatkowski at Salt Brook, and Mrs. Feliciano-Allen at Allen W. Roberts) and described disciplinary responses including in- and out-of-school suspensions, parent/teacher conferences and individual counseling. He said the HIB incidents involved characteristics such as race, color, gender, gender identity or expression, and mental or sensory disability.

Board President Bernadette Cuccaro opened and then closed the public hearing; there were no public comments.

The board recorded the report and will continue to monitor HIB cases and training efforts, which Uglialoro said include policy review, anti-bullying specialist training and social-media/cyberbullying instruction.