Number of Violence, Vandalism Incidents Drop in Lacey Schools

The number of violence and vandalism incidents reported to state education officials last school year was down significantly in Lacey, a report out from the state this week says.

During the 2012-13 school year, Lacey school officials reported four instances of violence, three instances of vandalism and three substance abuse cases to state authorities. There were no weapons incidents reported.

The total number of reports of violence is down from 24 during the 2011-12 school year. That same year, there were seven reports of vandalism and eight cases of substance abuse.

Lacey school officials also reported a total of 43 instances of harassment, intimidation or bullying in the 2012-13 school year. Those statistics were not compiled in previous reports.

There were few scenarios from which local comparisons could be drawn due to differences in district sizes. Barnegat Township, which educates about 1,400 fewer students, reported 10 HIB incidents and Manchester Township, which educates about 1,500 fewer students, reported 19 incidents. Brick Township, which educates 9,586 students, led the county with 62 HIB reports.