District Violence and Vandalism Report Westampton Township Public Schools Fall 2009 (Data from 9/08 thru 6/09)

This report includes the following: A comparison of the EVVRS statistics from the previous year. A review of suspension totals for 2008-09 An opportunity for the public to ask questions.

What Gets Reported An incident that results in an “In/Out” of school suspension or a Saturday Detention. Any situation that is potentially considered as bullying or harassing behavior as reported by the victim or observer.

Below is the summary of the data submitted as required by law for all known reportable incidents of Violence and Vandalism for the 2008-2009 School Year.

In 2007–2008 we had (17) reportable incidents of violence In 2007–2008 we had (17) reportable incidents of violence. Last school year (2008-09) there were a total of (11) reportable incidents. These reportable incidents included the following: (5) Assaults (1) Fight (2) Threats to the safety of another (2) Situations in which weapons were involved (1) Incident of theft (1) Incident of vandalism None of the incidents involved any student’s ethnicity or race. (0) Incidents involved a controlled dangerous substance (6th consecutive year with zero CDS)

The breakdown for this report includes: (7) Incidents of violence (2) Vandalism (2) Weapons (Some incidents may fit into more than one category)

From the 11 reportable incidents (12) different students were suspended in 2008–2009. All suspensions related to these incidents were out-of-school suspensions. We do have other options like Saturday Detentions, but all of the violations were serious enough to warrant an out-of-school suspensions. (1) Incident was reported to the police.

Summary of Incidents 2008-09 (11) reportable incidents Violence (8) Vandalism (2) Weapons (2) Substance Abuse (0) Fights (1) Assaults (4) Threats (2)

Definitions Simple Assault- A person attempts to cause, or purposely, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury to another. Fight - Mutual engagement in a physical confrontation that may result in bodily injury to either party. Does not include verbal confrontations. All participants should be classified as offenders. Harassment, Bullying, Intimidation, Threat*(HIBT) Any gesture, or written, verbal or physical act, or electronic or wireless communication that a reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, will have the effect of alarming (fear created by imminent danger) or harming (e.g., physically, emotionally) a student or staff member, or damaging their property; or b) has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student or group of students in such a way as to cause substantial disruption in, or substantial interference with, the orderly operation of the school.

WMS (1) Incident of a fight involved mutual physical exchange. (4) Simple Assaults (1) Weapon (0) Threats of violence No incidents of students to student sexual harassment.

Holly Hills (2) Incidents of vandalism (2) Threats of violence (1) Weapon (0) Incidents of fights/assaults that involved mutual physical exchange. (0) Simple Assaults No incidents of student to student sexual harassment.

Conclusion In 2006-07 the state changed the reporting criteria. Reportable incidents have fallen for the second consecutive year. Administration regularly attends EVVRS training. Both the HHS and WMS continue to utilize character education programs.