District Says Anti-Bullying Efforts Working, Plans Family Info Night

Halfway through the first school year of its implementation, the state's new anti-bullying rules are widely understood and are working here, a district official told the Barneget Board of Education Tuesday night.

District anti-bullying coordinator John Fiorentino, a vice principal at , told the board at its regular meeting that all employees have received training required by the state in the wake of new anti-bullying legislation.

The new Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights, which went into effect Sept. 1, requires school employees to be trained to recognize bullying, and mandates that they report all bullying incidents that come to their attention.

With school year halfway through, Fiorentino said Barnegat teachers and staff now have a clear grasp of what the new rules require of them when it comes to stemming bullying behavior.

“They’re given ways to immediately address bullying situations as they are witnessed, including scripts and strategies to try to understand how to make an impact,” he said.

And it’s not just teachers and administrators who are getting used to the new standards. Schools have seen a noticeable drop in incidents as students begin to understand that the rules – and the consequences – are real.

“We’re seeing a declines as the students are becoming more and more aware of this law,” he said. “There’s been a lot more eyes out there and a lot more attention to the matter.”

The state now requires each school within a district to develop a safety team, which includes the school principal, a teacher, a parent and the district anti-bullying specialist. The teams must meet twice a year to discuss ways to “foster and maintain a positive school climate, particularly as regards harassment and bullying,” Fiorentino said.

Barnegat’s teams have met twice, and will soon meet again to prepare for a family anti-bullying night at the . The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30, and will be open to parents and students alike. Babysitting will be available for young children.

Fiorentino said more details would be made available as the date approaches.

In other districts, efforts to follow the new state rules haven't gone as smoothly. The Paramus Board of Education joined the Allamuchy School District earlier this month in saying that while it's well intentioned, it "creates a significant drain on the human and financial resources of the district."