I ncidents of violence and vandalism more than doubled in the Matawan Aberdeen Regional School District during the 2010-11 school year from 2009-10, due mainly to new standards for reporting such incidents. Superintendent David Healy said at the Board of Education meeting on Nov. 1 that occurrences of violence and vandalism in district schools increased to 48 incidents for the 2010-11 school year, up from the 18 reported in 2009-10. By law all New Jersey public school districts, including charter schools, must use the N.J. Department of Education Electronic Violence and Vandalism Reporting System to report incidents of violence, vandalism, weapons possession and substance abuse.
“It is important to note that our administrators continue to make every reasonable effort to provide safe, calm learning environments for our students,” Healy said.
According to Healy, the district will create a core team comprising representatives from the Matawan and Aberdeen police departments, Monmouth County mental heath services and the Monmouth County Probation Department.
“The core team will be able to examine the issues which plague our community and to propose methods to address them, such as courthouse adjustments, parent groups, referral and counseling services, as well as communication between all the agencies,” Healy said.
The district will also provide additional workshops for the staff on violence, vandalism, gang awareness and Internet safety.
A breakdown of the report reveals that incidents of violence showed the greatest increase, with 19 incidents of harassment, intimidation and bullying reported district-wide in the 2010-11 school year, up from only three reported incidents the previous year.
“In a district of
4,000 students that’s not a lot, but it is still an increase,” Healy said.
He said that he attributes the spike to recent anti-bullying legislation and the mandated reporting of harassment, intimidation — David Healy and bullying. superintendent “Because of the recent attention placed on intimidation, harassment and bullying, there is a heightened awareness and more students are coming forward to report incidents to administration,” Healy said.
Also, in the violence category there were fewer incidents of assault, but three more fights at district schools. Incidents of sexual offenses remained the same at two.
Incidents of vandalism, which include arson, burglary, theft, damage to property and trespassing, also increased by seven.
“Damage to property increased from one reported incident in 2009-10 to four in 2010- 11,” Healy said. “Theft went from zero in 2009-10 to five in 2010-11.”
Incidents of substance abuse, which includes usage, possession and distribution, remained the same at four reported incidents in 2010-11
In the weapons category, possession of weapons that were not firearms was the only area of increase, with five reported incidents compared to two incidents the previous year.
“The district’s administration continues to work cooperatively with the Matawan and Aberdeen police departments in the investigation of incidents, while developing strategies to address issues of violence, vandalism, graffiti and substance abuse,” Healy said.
Although, the data show an increase of 30 reported incidents, overall the numbers remain relatively flat, he said.
“There weren’t any alarming increases. The overwhelming increases were harassment, intimidation and bullying, and that is because of the [heightened] awareness,” Healy said.
A majority of the incidents took place at the district’s grade 4-5 Lloyd Road School in Aberdeen, and action has been taken to address these issues, he said.
“I, along with my administrative team with the full support of our Board of Education, have been fully committed to appropriately addressing the reported increases at our Lloyd Road Elementary School,” Healy said.
At the start of this school year, Healy said additional administrative support was added at the school.
“The two middle school assistant principals will assist the Lloyd Road principal for half the day four times per week,” Healy said.
To address the time periods of arrival, dismissal, lunch and recess, when most of the reported incidents occur, the district continues to build operational, scheduling and coverage strategies [during those times], he said.
“The principal has my full support in this endeavor, and I am confident that all of our efforts will be reflected positively in next year’s report,” Healy said.
To address the increase of substance abuse, the district is taking affirmative action for those caught selling or distributing on school grounds.
“Students who are identified as selling or distributing drugs within our schools are reported to the police, arrests are made and recommendations are made to our Board of Education for expulsion,” Healy said.
Punishment for those who are identified as using [drugs] will be less severe, with the focus being on treatment, he said.
The district has eliminated anything greater than a four-day, out-of-school suspension for offenses.
“In the past, [a lengthy suspension] has resulted in some students becoming disaffected, falling further and further behind both academically and socially,” Healy said.