Reported incidents of violence jumped from 18 to 33 in the last two school years. Substance abuse more than quadrupled, from four last year to 18 this year.
By: Donna Lukiw
Reported incidents of violence in Hillsborough schools nearly doubled in the last two school years, but officials say the numbers reflect the district’s better reporting more than actual increased violence.
The report was reviewed at Monday’s Board of Education meeting.
In addition to the violence numbers which jumped from 18 to 33 reported incidents the report notes vandalism increased from two incidents in the 2004-2005 school year to seven in 2005-2006.
During the same period, substance abuse more than quadrupled, from four last year to 18 this year.
Superintendent Karen Lake said the change of criteria and definitions for the violence and vandalism reports and new administrators in the district "being precise in their reporting" could have contributed to the increase of numbers in violence.
Among the acts reported as violence are harassment, bullying and fighting.
But for substance abuse increasing in the schools, Dr. Lake said it is a problem the district is working on.
"Each year, they refine the definitions a little more," Dr. Lake said about the state revising the criteria of what constitutes as violence.
"We’ve had an increase of substance abuse in the high school. We’re trying to rid ourselves of substance abuse not only in the schools but in the community."
Dr. Lake said the district has tracked an increase in the use of drugs rather than alcohol.
"If you look at the suspensions from last year, many were for drugs and alcohol," Dr. Lake said at the meeting.
While there is an increase in violence, vandalism and substance abuse, police were notified 22 times and 10 complaints were filed.
"We’ve had no expulsions this year but we’ve had 15 in-school suspensions," Dr. Lake said.
Board member Judy Haas said the incidents have gone up but the consequences have gone down since police were notified 28 times last year and 21 students had in-school suspensions.
Dr. Lake said the bullying rules and laws have been in effect for two years now and there has been an increase in out-of-school suspensions where 52 students were suspended this year and 23 last year.
Dr. Lake said 44 regular education students were offenders compared to last year’s 20 students and 14 special education students committed an offence and were suspended compared to last year’s 17 students.
"It’s important that we see the reporting so we understand the magnitude of issues," board member David Lin said.
To keep the schools safe, Dr. Lake said the district has implemented school policies and procedures, school safety plans, character education programs, bullying prevention and staff training.
"We also cooperate with the Hillsborough Township Police Department and the Hillsborough Township Committee," Dr. Lake said.
Area schools contacted would not provide violence report figures for comparison before presstime.

