State: 'Violent' cases increase in schools

By John Zucal, Staff Writer
The level of serious incidents within East Orange’s public schools increased dramatically between the last two school years, according to a state report.
The district’s schools recorded 112 cases of what school or district officials considered severely adverse during the 2010-11 school year, officials with the state Department of Education announced in its annual Violence and Vandalism Report. The report, which has been produced by the department since the 1980s, uses districts’ information.
Last year’s level is a large increase in reported incidents as compared to the previous year. The district reported 64 cases during the 2009-10 year, virtually stable with the 69 incidents during the previous year.
As in most districts, the vast majority of incidents within East Orange’s schools last year concerned what the state considers “violent” activity. The district reported 69 incidents which involved assaults as well as non-physical acts such as intimidation and the issuance of threats.
Last year’s total was an increase from the 40 cases reported in 2009-10. State officials said the figure for this school year could increase in East Orange, as well as statewide, as school and district officials gain a greater sensitivity to “bullying” through legislation adopted in January.
“Though we cannot be certain whether the change in numbers reflects real increases or decreases in incidents, or simply better reporting, we do know the anti-bullying law has put a focus on violence and bullying in schools,” said Christopher Cerf, acting state commissioner of education. That focus, he said, has led “to better identification and reporting from schools and districts.”
The large increase in East Orange also appeared in other key categories. District officials reported to the state 26 incidents of vandalism in 2010-11, compared to 11 the previous year. Cases of vandalism primarily involve theft and property damage.
Another category in which the city’s schools made a major uptick was in the confiscation of weapons. Twelve cases were reported in 2009-10; that figure more than doubled, to 29, during the past school year.
Under state guidelines, school and districts are required to report incidents that occur during most school activities. They include those which normally occur during the school day, on a school bus, or during a school-sponsored program, such as an athletic event.