First Anti-Bullying Report: Nine Reports, Two Incidents

After listening to a presentation by Athina Cornell, the Warren Township Board of Education's attorney, at Monday's meeting at the middle school on how the district’s new Anti-Bullying policies will work, some in the audience still wondered how it will work.

“It was a good job of presenting policy, but it will be hard
to put into practice," Brenda Nemcek, a PTO representative, said. "I plan to go to the PTO and let them know their responsibility.”

According to Cornell's presentation, the Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying regulations require not only teachers and school staff to report any incidents, but also volunteers—such as PTO members. The board has scheduled a series of presentations for parents, volunteers and others who need to know and understand the new policy.

Cornell noted the policy follows the state law, which bases its definitions of bullying on well-established court precedents, and reported incidents must be documented and investigated by an anti-bullying specialist, who then reports conclusions on whether an incident of bullying has ocurred to the superintendent for a final decision. Parents are notified long the way, and can appeal decisions.

A key component of the law is a required statement of the district's number of reported incidents and the outcome of the review made at the Board of Education meetings—Monday's meeting included a report of nine reported incidents, with two meeting the criteria as incidents of bullying.

Superintendent Tami Crader said one of the students involved in bullying will receive counseling, while the other was suspended. She said, and Cornell agreed, additional information could not be released. 

When asked about incidents that some may not view as bullying but are reported, Cornell noted in such instances, the district will deal with the inapropriate student behavior as it always has.

Some board members and residents wondered if the policy would stifle students' speech—one parent noted his daughter, who was subject to an HIB investigation after joking with another student, has already said she doesn't feel able to express herself as easily as before.

To provide some background for the students, the district will participate in the New Jersey’s “Week of Respect,” starting Monday. The week will support the revised Anti-
Bullying Legislation by providing instruction on preventing harassment, intimidation or bullying. Warren educators believe that improved awareness can stop the problem of
bullying.

“Each of our public schools has an Anti-Bullying Specialist; they are creating plans to have lessons in the classrooms during ‘Week of Respect,’" Faye Brady, director of Special Services and the district’s Anti-Bullying Coordinator, said. "Each day will have a school-wide topic. Lessons will incorporate learning the meaning of respect in all areas of life for our children. This includes family, peers, school, and community.”

Dr. Brady also pointed out the importance of the parents and the community. “My experience with the Warren community is that they are very supportive of all efforts to
continue to make the schools excellent learning communities for their children.”

Topics for the “Week of Respect” will be posted on the school website so that all can share in the effort to teach the importance of respect.

Also, the state Department of Education recently posted an overview of recent amendments to the law.