SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT BUSINESS MEETING JANUARY 2017

Newark Public Schools | www.nps.k12.nj.us AGENDA

 2016 Harassment, Intimidation, Bullying (HIB) Incidents

 2016 Electronic Violence, Vandalism, and Substance Abuse (EVVSA) Incidents

Newark Public Schools | www.nps.k12.nj.us 2 2016 HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION, BULLYING (HIB) INCIDENTS

Newark Public Schools | www.nps.k12.nj.us 3 BULLYING: “HIB” DEFINITION

 Harassment, intimidation, or bullying (HIB) is any action that is reasonably perceived as being motivated by a characteristic (such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory disability) that takes place on school property and/or at any school-sponsored function that has the effect of:

. Offender knew action would physically or emotionally cause harm to the victim or damage to the victim’s property . Victim in fear of physical or emotional harm or damage to personal property . Insulting or demeaning a student or group of students . Creating a hostile educational environment by severely or pervasively causing physical or emotional harm to the student . Interfered with victim’s education

Newark Public Schools | www.nps.k12.nj.us 4 NJDOE RECENT UPDATES

 Article 8.6 Hazing: Article revised to further clarify that harassment, intimidation or bullying may constitute hazing, a criminal offense, and the reporting requirements between school officials and law enforcement

 Article 8.7 Cyber Harassment: Article added to specify the rules of the NJ criminal code that now includes a separate and distinct offense for cyber- harassment, targeting online communication meant to harm, annoy or threaten another, and the special conditions for juvenile cyber-harassment offenders

 Article 8.9 Coordination of HIB and Criminal Investigations: Revised article expands information provided in the previous Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to add specific provisions when an HIB investigation and criminal investigation intersect. Clarifies when a school district should suspend or “stay” its investigation while adhering to the spirit of the Anti- Bullying of Rights Act (N.J.S.A 18A:37:14 et. seq)

In addition, educators and law enforcement officers should work together to address the sharp rise in “swatting” incidents. Swatting is the act of placing a false report of an ongoing emergency with a 9-1-1 operator, tricking that operator into dispatching heightened response units-such as bomb squads or SWAT teams-to a certain address

Newark Public Schools | www.nps.k12.nj.us 5 HIB FOUR-YEAR DATA COMPARISON

300 263 250

197 200

150 Investigated 115 Confirmed 97 100 87 81 73 71 57 50 43

0 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2016-17 includes data available for year to date (Fall 2016)

Newark Public Schools | www.nps.k12.nj.us 6 HIB ANALYSIS AND REDUCTION STRATEGIES

Analysis of Trends:  Since 2012, the reported cases of HIB continue to decrease  This can be attributed to a combination of more accurate reporting of this data, as well as to a number of reduction strategies undertaken by NPS

Reduction Strategies Include: 1. An Increase in NPS School -Based Prevention Programming . For example: conflict resolution and mediation, restorative practices and anti-bullying rallies

2. Implementing the “Week of Respect” & “Violence Awareness Week”

3. Conducting Ongoing Trainings . Continued professional development for NPS HIB Anti-Bullying School Specialists . HIB remediation and suicide prevention training . HIB training for NPS Security Guards, Family Engagement Specialists, and Parents . NPS-wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) training for the Office of Safety and Security Services . Specialized training on how to conduct HIB investigations

| www.nps.k12.nj.us 7 Newark Public Schools 2016 ELECTRONIC VIOLENCE, VANDALISM, AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE (EVVSA) INCIDENTS

Newark Public Schools | www.nps.k12.nj.us 8 NPS EVVSA REPORTING AND DEFINITION  The Electronic Violence, Vandalism, and Substance Abuse (EVVSA) is a State-mandated reporting system used to report incidents occurring on school grounds or during school events

 Components of the report include:

. Violence . Vandalism related incidents . Weapon related incidents . Substance offenses

Newark Public Schools | www.nps.k12.nj.us 9 2016 EVVSA ARREST INCIDENTS

NUMBER OF ARRESTS

6 5 5

4 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 ARRESTS 1 1 1 1 0 0

Newark Public Schools | www.nps.k12.nj.us 10 INCIDENT REPORT FOR JANUARY - DECEMBER 2016

24 39 VIOLENCE 152 VANDALISM 49 SUBSTANCE WEAPONS

Newark Public Schools | www.nps.k12.nj.us 11 SECURITY FOUR-YEAR DATA COMPARISON AND ANALYSIS

250

197 200

153 152 150 VIOLENCE VANDALISM 100 SUBSTANCE 81 82 78 WEAPONS 49 50 39 36 39 30 29 26 24 17 24

0 2013 2014 2015 2016 • Under-reporting may have contributed to the one-year dip in incidents reported in 2015 • Otherwise, 2016 data looks roughly similar to previous years

Newark Public Schools | www.nps.k12.nj.us 12 SECUIRTY REDUCTION STRATEGIES

 Implementation of new protocols, partnerships, and strategic planning will contribute to the reduction of incidents:

. Annual Training of School Safety Officers, Security Guards, and School Administrators

. Addressing restorative practices (facilitating student conflict resolution and mediation)

. Office of Safety and Security Services will continue to work proactively with Law Enforcement partners

. Modify staffing levels in response to frequent incidents

Newark Public Schools | www.nps.k12.nj.us 13