Hopatcong's School Violence Reports Up Slightly

Reported incidents involving violence, vandalism, weapons, or drugs and alcohol in increased slightly during the 2010-2011 school year, according to a state report released Friday.

The number of reported incidents rose to 28 from 18 in 2009-2010—violence increased to 18 from 15; vandalism increased to five from zero; and substance abuse rose from five to zero, according to the report. There were no reported incidents involving weapons for the second straight year.

Despite the increase, Hopatcong ranked just fourth in Sussex County in the number of reported incidents, behind High Point (84), Vernon (49) and Newton (34). Sparta rounded out the top five at 26.

Hopatcong's reporting ratio was 1.3 percent, which means a borough student would have a 1.3 percent chance of being involved in one of the reports—the county's seventh-highest mark. High Point had the highest ratio at 7.4 percent. Nearby Lenape Valley had a 2.1 percent ratio, or the county's fourth highest.

Hopatcong schools Superintendent Dr. Charles Maranzano said he was satisfied with the results of the Electronic Violence and Vandalism Reporting System, which only includes incidents occurring on school property during school hours and school functions, such as sporting events and activities. He said Sussex County's public schools are among the safest in the state and are battling the deterioration of society's morals.

"I can't turn on the radio in the weight room without hearing something that would be impermissible in school," Maranzano said. "Society's norms have come down so far that we're fighting a tremendous uphill battle to instill in young people morals.

Maranzano explained the increase as part of a trend that rises and falls each year.

"You're never going to have a year when you don't have any incidents," he said. "You're dealing with a statistical cross-section of the population. You don't cause the violence, you respond to it and you try to prevent it.

"My point is, we did not have any egregious incidents. We didn't have any outrageous incidents. I feel that our standards in public schools are higher than they are in society."

The report began including incidents recorded by Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act that was instituted in 2011. Maranzano said that may have led to a slight rise in reported incidents in Hopatcong schools, but a much wider increase across the county.

"I think it's elevated the numbers across the county, and here as well," he said. "But we've taken a very conservative [approach] on that. It's elevated our numbers slightly, but I think it has elevated number across the state. Some people really don't know what constitutes harassment, intimidation and bullying, and they're probably reporting incidents that aren't valid."

Under the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act, harassment, intimidation and bullying is reasonably perceived as being motivated either by an actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory disability, or by any other distinguishing characteristic; takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function, or on a school bus; or off school grounds; substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the school or the rights of other students; and that a reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, will have the effect of physically or emotionally harming a student or damaging the student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm to his person or damage to his property; or; has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student or group of students; or; creates a hostile educational environment for the student by interfering with a student’s education or by severely or pervasively causing physical or emotional harm to the student, according to the state.