Department
reports fewer problem schools in state
Wednesday, August 03, 2005 • By
TERRENCE DOPP • The
Express-Times
TRENTON -- New Jersey's public schools
are getting safer, according to a report released Tuesday by
the state Department of Education.
Just four schools in the state were
labeled "persistently dangerous" in the most recent ranking,
which is required under the federal No Child Left Behind
Act. The report covers the 2003-04 school year; 10 schools
made the list in 2002-03.
Federal guidelines require every school
district in the nation to report violence, vandalism,
weapons offenses and drug abuse.
"The overwhelming majority of New
Jersey's schools did not fit the criteria for being called
persistently dangerous," said Richard Vespucci, spokesman
for Education Commissioner William Librera.
According to national NCLB figures, just
two other states in the nation -- Pennsylvania and South
Dakota -- had schools deemed persistently dangerous. State
education officials said New Jersey's stringent reporting of
any violence or harassment was the reason for its
performance in the survey.
New Jersey Assistant Commissioner of
Education Isaac Bryant said that despite having a higher
number of incidents listed, the four schools are not
dangerous.
"We as a state were really slammed for
being honest. So we get a little bit skittish about trying
to place blame," Bryant said.
Those schools deemed persistently
dangerous are: D'Ippolito Intermediate School in Vineland;
and the Grace A. Dunn Middle School, Trenton Central High
School, and Martin Luther King Middle School, all in
Trenton.
Topping the Warren County list of
violence incidents was Phillipsburg schools, which posted 99
incidents among 3,588 students. Franklin, Frelinghuysen and
Greenwich townships all reported no dangerous acts, as well
as Washington and the county special services
district.
In Hunterdon County, Hunterdon Central
Regional topped the list with 42 violent acts among 2,754
students. Hampton and Frenchtown reported none, according to
the state numbers.
Terrence Dopp is Trenton correspondent for The
Express-Times. He can be reached at 609-292-5154 or by
e-mail at tdopp@sjnewsco.com.
© 2005 The Express-Times. Used with
permission.
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