Superintendent: 64 Harassment Incidents Took Place This Past Year

Out of 147 bullying investigations conducted throughout the school year, 64 were determined as actual HIB (harassment, intimidation and bullying) incidents, and now the district is preparing to strengthen its anti-bullying efforts even further in the next year.

Mark Porto, superintendent, gave the second HIB report for this school year during the Board of Education meeting Thursday.  State law requires superintendents to provide HIB  reports twice during each school year. he provided was this past November.

Porto said the number of incidents is quite high and the district is putting its plans in place for the next school year which includes adding character education into its curriculum.

The superintendent told parents the district’s anti-bullying coordinator Nicole Fried has identified two programs which all administrators will review.  In addition there will be other programs put in place, Porto said, adding that the middle school has received a grant from Princeton which involves teacher training and parent involvement.

He added that the new principals and all administrators, including himself, will also receive more training.

Over the past school year the district implemented various anti-bullying programs in the schools to raise awareness and provide character education for the students. They also conducted a to bring together borough officials, parents, town clergy and school representatives to work together to combat bullying and keep it out of Heights schools.

Porto pointed out that other districts are dealing with about the same amount of incidents which is not an excuse but just a parameter to show that other districts are dealing with the same issue.

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