School District Reports 80 Incidents of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying

There were 80 confirmed incidents of harassment, intimidation and bullying in the Lacey Township School District during the 2011-12 school year.

Superintendent Dr. Sandra Brower reported the figures at the August school board meeting, which served as the annual hearing as required by state legislation.

The bill required schools to implement staff training in suicide prevention, harassment, intimidation, and bullying; appoint a school liaison to law enforcement; establish bullying prevention programs; respond to actions that occur off school grounds; form a school safety team; and appoint anti-bullying specialists and coordinators. It also required the establishment of an anti-bullying specialist and changes to the reporting process of bullying.

“I don’t think the law created any improvements,” Brower said. “I think the law created awareness. It didn’t do anything to stop bullying.”

Despite the law, bullying still exists, she said. The major difference is in the reporting, which provides mediation to situations more quickly.

“In the past, a lot more time went by,” Brower said. “Staff, parents, students have a right to come to school to learn. When they don’t feel safe, they have the opportunity to report.”

Below are the harassment, intimidation and bullying figures from the last school year. The district is required to publicly report them.

More information on the policies can be found here. Questions and concerns can be directed to the Brower’s office at 609-971-2000.

HIB Figures: 
Lacey Township High School: 108 investigations, 37 confirmed incidents
Cedar Creek: 3 investigations, 0 confirmed incidents
Forked River School: 4 investigations, 3 confirmed incidents
Lacey Middle School: 34 investigations, 31 confirmed incidents
Mill Pond School: 7 investigations, 7 confirmed incidents
Lanoka Harbor School: 3 investigations, 2 confirmed incidents