WW-P schools report a reduction in violence

By Kristine Snodgrass, Staff Writer
   The West Windsor-Plainsboro School District has seen a decrease of about 40 percent in reports of violence in its schools in the past year, a shift the district attributes to improved efforts to counsel its students.
   The district’s school board held a public hearing on its 2007-2008 Violence and Vandalism Report at its meeting Tuesday night.
   According to the report, incidents of violence were reduced by 10 to 16 over the previous year, while incidents of substance abuse decreased by six to 14.
   Tom Smith, assistant superintendent for pupil services and planning, attributed the decrease to new policies in the discipline of students involved in such incidents. Alternatives to suspensions are now emphasized, he said, recognizing that the form of discipline doesn’t necessarily result in a change in behavior.
   The district has been working with the guidance department to “really be proactive with the way we were addressing the needs of students,” he said.
   ”We’ve found if we can get kids engaged in the school environment, the likelihood of them being involved in an incident decreases significantly,” he said.
   Students who get in trouble, including those who have become repeat offenders, are receiving counseling, he said.
   ”A lot of our administrators do work with our kids one-on-one,” he said.
   Reports of weapons in schools increased from four last year to six this year, according to the report.
   Mr. Smith said the designation as a weapon doesn’t necessarily mean the item was dangerous. One incident involved a student with a water pistol that looked like a gun, he said. “We go by the state’s definition of what a weapon is,” Mr. Smith said. “It could be anything from a very small pen knife to an item like a look-alike.”
   Incidents of vandalism remained steady at 11, according to the report. One of these cost the district $160 for the repair of a bus seat was ripped by a student, Mr. Smith said.
   While the number of incidents where the police were notified remained steady, more police complaints have been filed, according to the report. The number of complaints filed has increased from two to nine.
   The district hasn’t changed its policy on filing complaints, Mr. Smith said. Parents can also file complaints, he said, which could be a reason for the change.
   One student, who was involved in a bomb threat last year, was removed from the school to an alternate program, according to the report.