Lenape Regional High School District Security and Emergency Management Coordinator James Kehoe gave a report of the Violence and Vandalism and HIB Reports to the LRHSD Board of Education on Wednesday, Oct. 19.
The Violence and Vandalism and HIB Reports are required to be given two times a year, once in February for from July to December of the school year, and once in October for January to June and total of the previous school year.
In 2015–2016 from January to June, there were 23 incidents of violence, three incidents of vandalism and 20 of substance abuse; there were no weapons and no HIB incidences.
In violence, there were 10 assaults, three criminal threats, one threat, seven fights and two sexual offenses. Of the incidents, 16 charges were filed.
For vandalism, there was one damage of property and two thefts. Substance abuse includes 13 confirmed uses and seven possessions of substances.
There were 77 non-duplicated incidences, such as a fight and substance abuse, this year compared to last year’s 89. Seventy-seven is the lowest total in 10 years at LRHSD, according to Kehoe.
There has been a decrease in incidents of violence from 40 in 2014–2015 to 36 in 2015–2016; substance abuse from 38 to 27; and weapons offenses from two to one. There was a slight increase in HIB incidents from zero to four and no change in vandalism, as both years had nine.
The weapon was an accident, according to Kehoe, where a student accidently brought a pocketknife to school. The student was not charged.
The HIB complaints made were earlier in the 2015–2016 year. The four incidents include two based on race, one based on physical disability and one based on gender. Consequences at the LRHSD include suspension, counseling, schedule modifications, cease and desists, shadowing, extra supervision and charged by police.
Kehoe said the LRHSD does a number of things to prevent and educate about HIB related instances. Some of the items include eight student programs such as No Place for Hate and Violence Awareness Week and 78 staff related programs and training on HIB.
In other news:
• The Lenape Regional Foundation gave $25,000 to the LRHSD for its College Accelerated Program in the form of the scholarship. A partnership among LRHSD, Rowan College of Burlington County and Rowan University, CAP offers students taking select courses an opportunity to earn both high school and college credit. The scholarship will be offered to high achieving students who are enrolled in CAP courses, but may not be taking full advantage of the program to earn up to 3 credits per course.
• A presentation was made on the LRHSD Transition Services. A set of activities for individual students, including those with special needs, to help the students transition from high school to post secondary life, whether that be college, vocational school or the workforce. Transition Services include job coaches, local employers and students coming together to teach students all different types of work and skill they may need in the future. In 2016–2017, there are 43 students participating, 55 employers and 32 job coaches working together to achieve the goals of the program. At the end of the program, last spring the LRHSD held its first Transition Services Award Ceremony honoring students and employers for their work.
Transition Services also include creating job and volunteer fairs and seminars on interviewing skills, dressing for success and resume writing.
