School District Still Trying to Make Sense of State Anti-Bullying Law

The Madison school district has already investigated eight claims of bullying, intimidation or harassment under new state rules since the school year began, four of which were formally reviewed by the prior to its scheduled meeting Tuesday night at .

Schools Superintendent Michael Rossi told the lightly attended meeting that the district continues to seek guidance on how to implement and carry out the new anti-bullying rules.

“District personnel continue to educate ourselves on this new law,” Rossi said. “We keep in contact with other districts to see how they’re handling it. We are by no means on terra firma on how we should handle it or the role of the Board or the role of the district [harassment] specialist.”

Rossi said that the district is also working closely with the county education office — and with its attorney—and that help from the state has not been forthcoming. “The HIB office in Trenton, when you call, 29 out of 30 times the voice mailbox is full,” he said.

In other developments, Rossi said the district continues to pursue other potential revenue streams, including sponsorships of district assets. “If Dell wants to come in here and put its name on our computer center here in the library, we would certainly be interested in that,” he said.

The district will soon distribute two surveys, one to residents about what they like and don’t like about the district website, and a second to gauge interest in a kindergarten ‘wraparound’ program. The program would offer an extended day, at added cost, something Rossi said he implemented with success while he was superintendent in Roxbury. “It’s a way to generate revenue and offer people a less expensive alternative to daycare.”

Also on the agenda and approved by the board was an item engaging consultant Edvocate School Support Solutions for $9,875 to manage a Request For Proposals to ultimately outsource the district’s custodial services as a cost-saving measure.

The board approved $349,347 in additional state aid, including $125,095 for a new roof at .