VIOLENCE AND VANDALISM UP IN SO-MA SCHOOLS, BUT WHY?

The number of violent incidents and vandalism in the South Orange Maplewood School district rose substantially during the last school year, according to the annual state report on such data.

But enrollment also skyrocketed during the same period, which may have been part of the reason for the increase

The Violence, Vandalism and Substance Abuse in New Jersey Public Schools report, issued last month by the Department of Education, found that the overall number of violence and vandalism incidents in the schools increased from 137 in the 2012-2013 school year to 233 in the 2013-2014 school year.

Incidents increased during the last school year in all areas, with vandalism rising the most, from 14 the previous year to 67 incidents last year. 

Other increases included total violent incidents, up from 73 to 105; weapons incidents, up from seven to 12; substance abuse increasing from 13 to 17, while harassment, bulling an intimidation events rose from 35 to 40.

In past years, the total number of violent incidents had been lower, with 182 in 2011-2012 and 92 in 2010-2011.

The district enrollment had also increased during those years, which may have sparked some of the incident increases. While enrollment was at 6,393 in 2010-2011, it jumped to 6,512 in 2011-2012, 6,588 in 2012-2013 and 6,752 last school year. That's an increase of 359 students in just four years.

Four-year stats below. (HIB: Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying)


                    Enrollment   Violence  Vandalism  Weapons  Substance Abuse  HIB  Total

2010-2011    6,393              63              9                8                 13                  0       92

2011-2012    6,512              53             64               7                 18                 43     182

2012-2013    6,588              73             14               7                 13                 35     137

2013-2014    6,752              105           67              12                17                 40      233