Wayne school officials approve plan to reverse uptick in bullying incidents

By: Philip DeVencentis
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey

WAYNE - The Board of Education has approved a plan that aims to reduce the number of reports bullying cases in local schools by at least 10% next year. [2023-2024]
..... The plan was developed by the K-12 district administration after a handful of parents came forward to report instance of bullying at Anthony Wayne Middle School on Garside Avenue.
..... Schools Superintendent Mark Toback said on Wednesday, [07/19/2023] that, while most bullying cases are determined to be unfounded, officials are taking the issue very seriously.
..... "We always want to have a positive school climate, and if bullying is getting in the way of that, going to do something about it," he said.
..... There were 294 cases of bullying reported in the township's 15 public schools this past year. [2022-2023] Of those, Toback said, 37% were substantiated.
..... That is a sharp increase from the report school year, [2021-2022] when according to state data, there were 198 cases investigated.
..... "When you add it all together" he said, "the number of cases that are being reported is a symptom of an overall wellness issue."
..... Roughly one in six cases reproted this past year [2022-2023] stemmed from social media interactions that were not connected to school. Officials still had to look into them, Toback said, because they were brought to their attention.
..... As part of the plan, Toback said, the district will evaluate existing anti-bullying programs and coordinate themes at each school. Recent cases will be reviewed in more depth, and officials will try to better understand possible causes for the increase.
..... Financial implications of the plan are minimal, Toback said.
..... The plan includes opportunities for additional staff to receive training for work related to its implementation.
..... By the start of the school year, [2023-2024] Toback said, administrators at each building will have updated forms to standardize the process for reporting bullying cases.
..... He said a committee will be established to talk about the district's evaluation of existing programs and to devise new strategies for education.
..... That may involve anti-bullying discussions during back-to-school nights, for parents, professional-development hours for staff and orientation events for students.
..... A school climate survey will be open to the community in the fall, Toback said.
..... The committee will then reconvene to assess the progress toward meeting the goal. Results may be reported to the public by the spring. [2024]

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