District Seeks Money for Anti-Bullying Law

The Paramus public school district is applying for a piece of the $1 million in funding to implement the state's anti-bullying law.

But even the state acknowledges the sum might not be enough in the application for the money.

"If the total number of approvable applications exceeds the available funds, district awards will be pro-rated and adjusted accordingly," the application reads.

The Paramus school district is looking for reimbursement for workshops that teachers, parents and administrators attended in compliance with the law.

"We are working to establish the amount of the application based on the cost of workshops teachers, parent and administrators attended since July 1, 2011," Superintendent Joseph Lupo said.

The law took effect at the beginning of the school year in September. Almost every district employee was required to .

Ever staff member must also immediately report any bullying incidents under the law.

That provision covers any incidents on school property, including school buses. In response, the district to monitor buses.

A number of districts protested the cost of complying with the law, led by the Allamuchy school district, which had the law . The Paramus backed the Allamuchy case, saying that the law " on the human and financial resources of the district."

School officials expect district applications to total much more than the $1 million the state made available after the Allamuchy case, NJ Spotlight reports. Applications are due May 11.

“It will be interesting to see how far this money will go,” said John Donahue, executive director of the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials, whose members will be the ones applying for the money.

“If you think about it, if even just half of the districts apply, that’s just $3,000 per district,” he said.