Lenape Regional High School District’s Jim Kehoe, the security and emergency management coordinator, presented the Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying report from the 2012–2013 school year, at last week’s board of education meeting.
Statistics from Jan. 1-June 30 are annually reported at the October meeting.
The second half of the year included 32 violence offenses, 12 vandalism offenses, two weapons offenses, 21 confirmed cases of substance abuse and four confirmed cases of HIB, according to Kehoe.
For the year, there were 107 incidents compared to 92 the previous year.
“We had a decrease of incidents for weapons and substance abuse and an increase in vandalism and violence offenses,” Kehoe said. “None of the violence offenses were gang related.”
The biggest increase in the violence category was sexual offenses, with five from Jan. 1-June 30. Kehoe defined the sexual offenses as “any inappropriate touching,” including any touching “that may have come from grabbing during horseplay.”
Fights also increased by 13 incidents compared to the previous year.
There were four confirmed HIB incidents last school year of five allegations.
Counseling and protective shadowing was provided to victims. Additionally bullies were suspended, given counseling, suspended from extracurricular activities and had meetings with numerous school officials, according to Kehoe.
There were two bomb threats last year, according to Kehoe. One of the cases is closed and the second remains under investigation.
Safety initiatives the district is taking include Violence Awareness Week, Holocaust Awareness, Week of Respect, the Upstander program, HIB training for teacher and professionals, incident command training for administrators and the No Place for Hate Program.
In other news:
• LRHSD’s director of programs and planning, Chris Heilig, highlighted the 2012–2013 school year.
Shawnee High School teacher Rick Bozarth was named Burlington County Teacher of the Year, the 10th from the LRHSD.
“We’re proud of the work he does and the work he does with our students,” Heilig said.
• Heilig mentioned the theme of volunteerism and students and faculty always willing to give to those in need.
Students from each high school lent a hand to those affected by Hurricane Sandy last October.
Students donated cases of water, traveled to the locations and were “always willing to help out,” Heilig said.
“It was an overwhelmingly tragic event that happened,” he said.
Additionally, last year was the largest class for the Senior Day of Service program, where seniors in each school volunteer in the community.
Approximately 1,800 students worked on 95 sites, Heilig said.
“We’re happy we’re going into our fourth Senior Day of Service. It’s a real good day that represents what they do all year long,” Heilig said.
• Students also did what they could after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, which took place Dec. 14.
Teachers, administrators, local municipal officials and police officials gathered to discuss
safety plans and how to improve safety measures at each of the schools.
“We took information, suggestions, criticisms from students, teachers and parents. We spoke to law enforcement and members of the municipalities to figure out a plan,” Heilig said.
• Heilig noted the success of the students from LDTV and winning the U Got Brains Championship through a video and safe driving campaign.
LDTV received $10,000 in grant money and a driving simulator to be placed in one of the schools. The program also won the first year of the competition.
• Heilig commended students and staff for the high graduation rate.
LRHSD’s graduation rate is 95 percent, compared to the state average of 86 percent and national average of 75 percent, according to Heilig.
According to Heilig, 1,770 students graduated last year, 494 from Lenape, 365 from Shawnee, 595 from Cherokee and 316 from Seneca.
Of the students who graduated, 80 percent were going through their sophomore year, Heilig said.
• The next board of education meeting is scheduled for Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the District Building, 93 Willow Grove Road in Shamong.
