Violence, vandalism decrease in 2008-09

There were fewer incidents of violence and vandalism in the Upper Freehold Regional School District in 2008-09 than there have been in the two previous school years, but this year could break the downward trend.

Allentown High School Vice Principal Brian Myslinski presented the annual violence and vandalism report at the Oct. 21 Board of Education meeting. The number of incidents reported decreased from 54 in 2006-07 to 30 in 2007-08 to 25 in 2008-09. The report, mandated by the state, provides information from September to July of each school year.

"There's every indication that we're making progress in the right direction," Myslinski said.

Myslinski compared the number of incidents reported at the school district during the 2007-08 school year to neighboring school district's reports. Upper Freehold Regional had 30 incidents that year while East Windsor Regional had 140, Ewing Township had 89, Hopewell Valley had 60, Lawrence Township had 108, and Princeton Regional had 48.

A summary of the report for the 2008-09 school year shows there was one weapons offense, two threatening behaviors, one harassment and one assault in the elementary/ middle school. At the high school, there were seven fights, two thefts ($10 or more), four assaults and three harassments. Three students had been found under the influence and one student was found in possession of drug paraphernalia.

Myslinski noted that the three underthe influence reports did not stem from the random drug testing recently implemented at the high school. He said that all three students had been suspected of being under the influence of alcohol during a pep rally and when questioned admitted to the offense.

The vice principal also reported on the violence and vandalism incidents since the beginning of the 2009-10 school year. Since Sept. 10, there has been one assault, one fight and one instance of vandalism at the elementary/middle school. Since Sept. 9, there has been one fight, two bullying incidents and one assault at the high school. Two high school students were also found to be under the influence of marijuana.

"So far this year is not so hot," Myslinski said.

In response to questions from the board, Myslinski said that a fight is defined as mutual combat, whereas assault is combat without retaliation.

He said the student handbook allows students to defend themselves if attacked. He also said there is a committee that reviews incidents if there is a question as to whether they are assaults or fights.

He reminded the public that the police can respond to the school at any time and press charges against a student.

"Especially if there is an injury in the incident," he said, noting an incident between two students in a relationship that ended in a charge of domestic violence.

Members of the board also had concerns about the district's definition of a weapon, since other schools have been in the news recently for punishing students for having kitchen and utility knives.

"We live in a farming community," Myslinski said. "Sure, some of our kids have utility knives. They bring these items to us and we lock them away."

The same happens for kitchen knives used to cut food and items brought in for assemblies, he said.

Myslinski assured that the principals of each school have zero tolerance for weapons and noted that a fourth-grader who brought in a Swiss Army knife that he advertised and shared with another student had to face the appropriate consequences.

Allentown High School Vice Principal Connie Embley said the administration looks at each incident and the reasoning behind it to determine the appropriate course of action.

"We have zero tolerance for aggressive, dangerous behavior, but if it's not that we use our common sense and good judgment," she said.

For more information, visit www.ufrsd.net.