Violent Incidents Decline in Hopatcong, Sparta Schools, Report Shows

The New Jersey Department of Education on Thursday released its annual Violence, Vandalism and Substance Abuse in the Schools Report for 2012-13.

The reports highlight the number of violent incidents in a school district in various categories, including harassment, intimidation, and bullying. This is the second year HIB incidents are being reported in their own category.

The numbers for the Hopatcong Borough and Sparta Township school districts are as follows:

Hopatcong

Enrollment: 1,902 (2,013 in 2011-12)

Violence: 3 (6)

Vandalism: 1 (4)

Weapons: 0 (3)

Substances: 3 (8)

HIB: 11 (7)

Total: 18 (27)

Sparta

Enrollment: 3,362 (3,595)

Violence: 0 (1)

Vandalism: 0 (2)

Weapons: 1 (0)

Substances: 14 (18)

HIB: 18 (20)

Total: 32 (41)

The following types of incidents are included in each category. Violence: fights, assaults, and robberies. Vandalism: bomb threats, burglaries, damage to private property, and thefts.

More than one third of HIB incidents throughout the state occurred in the classroom.

Student HIB offenders in grades five through 12 were responsible for 56 percent of these offenses. This population accounts for only 29 percent the state’s student population.

Fifteen percent of HIB incidents targeted students because of their race or color, the state noted.