Violence, Bullying Down in Cinnaminson Schools

The Cinnaminson School District had 57 total incidents reported as part of the Violence, Vandalism and Substance Abuse in the Schools Report for 2013-2014, released by the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) this week.

The report is produced each year to share self-reported incidents from districts that include violence, vandalism, weapons offenses, substance offenses, and harassment, intimidation and bullying.

This year’s reporting period was from July 1, 2013-June 30, 2014.

Cinnaminson’s highest number came under the “violence” category. Cinnaminson had 25 reports of violent incidents, and 19 incidents of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB).

These numbers represent a decline, as there were 32 incidents of violence and 14 incidents of HIB the previous school year.

There were eight incidents of vandalism and five incidents of reported substance abuse in the schools. Vandalism was up from three incidents during the last school year, but there were three fewer reports of substance abuse.

There were zero incidents involving weapons each of the last two years.

The school district has a total population of 2,354 students.

It is the second year NJDOE has released anti-bullying grade reports. Bullying has been a separate reporting category for the past three years. A third of all reported incidents were categorized as harassment, intimidation and bullying, although the total counts are down 16 percent statewide compared to 2012-2013.

The state’s Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act requires the Commissioner of Education to grade the efforts of each public school and school district to address bullying in the school environment. The Commissioner has released these anti-bullying grades to schools and districts, which are posted on each school and district website.

Each school’s anti-bullying grade, from 0 to 78, was calculated from information provided through a 40-page self-assessment that measured how well each school achieved specific indicators for meeting state regulations and protocols.

The district’s overall score was a 70.

Cinnaminson High School’s grade was a 70, with maximum scores for Other Staff Instruction and Training Programs, Curriculum and Instruction on HIB and Related Information Skills, School-Level HIB Incident Reporting Procedure HIB Investigative Procedure.

Cinnaminson Middle School also scored a 70, and the New Albany Elementary School scored a 69.

Eleanor Rush Intermediate School scored a district-wide 71.

For the district’s full results, click here.

The 2014 New Jersey School Climate Survey is also available for the second year.

The survey is a tool for local school districts to get feedback on what the school community thinks about their school in areas such as community engagement, morale and the academic climate.

Some of the questions also touch upon the emotional environment and physical safety, as well as relationships and communications between the school and its stakeholders.

NJDOE doesn’t administer the survey, and school districts are not required to participate.

For more on the School Climate Survey, visit the NJDOE’s School Climate Survey webpage.