Bullying numbers decrease again for Mt. Laurel Schools

For the third straight year, the Mt. Laurel School District has seen a drop in HIB incidents during the first half of the school year.

The Mt. Laurel School District reported five confirmed Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying incidents from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31, 2014. That number is down from six reported incidents during the same time period in 2013. Director of curriculum Sharon Vitella gave the semi-annual violence and vandalism report during last week’s board of education meeting.

While the number of confirmed HIB incidents was down in the first half of 2014–15, the number of investigations increased. There were 20 HIB investigations from September through December, an increase of 33 percent from the first half of 2013–14. The number is also higher than the 19 investigations reported in the first half of 2012–13.

However, Vitella said no one should be alarmed by any of the numbers. She said the district’s numbers remain low for a district with more than 4,000 students.

“These number are really low,” she said. “Just to have 20 HIB investigations and five incidents is a low number.”

Mt. Laurel finished the 2013–14 school year with 14 confirmed HIB incidents, a small number when compared to other surrounding school districts such as Moorestown, Evesham and Tabernacle. Last year’s number was the lowest the district has had since HIB was first reported as a separate category in 2011–12.

Vitella attributes the decreasing number to a better understanding of what an HIB incident is. She said teachers have been able to differentiate whether kids are joking around or whether actual bullying is taking place.

To help improve education on HIB, the district has continued to hold training for teachers and school staff. Vitella’s report showed the district has increased the number of HIB staff training sessions.

“These are different training programs we do for staff, teachers and bus drivers,“ Vitella said.

The district also remains committed to anti-bullying programs such as the Responsive Classroom and the Week of Respect in October. Vitella said the district will continue to examine what areas it can improve to further promote a culture of respect with the students.

“We’re continuing to look at some different programs and work with the kids,” she said.

The district also released its HIB self-assessment grades with the violence and vandalism report. The district scored a 71 out of a possible 78 points for a second straight year. The self-assessment looks at the district’s HIB programming, training, and investigating and reporting procedures.

School budget update

Assistant Superintendent Robert Wachter said administrators are making progress with the 2015–16 budget and will discuss it with the board of education’s finance committee during its next meeting.

Wachter said the administration will present figures to the public after the district receives its state aid figures for next year. The figures are expected to be released following Gov. Christie’s State of the State address in February.

School Board Recognition Month

District administrators recognized the Mt. Laurel Board of Education with a resolution in honor of School Board Recognition Month in January.

Vitella said the resolution is not just to honor the Mt. Laurel board, but also encourage other members of the community to get more involved with the school district.