Violence in local schools growing Statewide, incidents stayed level, according to report. Thursday, August 30, 2007 • By TRISH G. GRABER • The Express-Times TRENTON | While reports of violence and vandalism in New Jersey's schools held steady, similar incidents in Hunterdon County schools increased, according to a report released Wednesday. The state Department of Education's annual report compiles data collected from schools through the Electronic Violence and Vandalism Reporting System. It details information on incidents ranging from fights, threats, theft, possession of firearms and drugs. Overall, the state's incidents increased 2 percent from 18,409 to 18,796. In Hunterdon County schools, total incidents jumped from 176 during the last reporting period to 261 during the 2005-2006 school year -- the most recent period reported. The majority of reported incidents were acts of violence. Education Commissioner Lucille Davy said while districts are given requirements for reporting specific incidents, reporting may still vary between districts. State officials said the reports can still offer insight into local schools. "As a snapshot, it's difficult to draw conclusions," said Department of Education's Tom Collins, who coordinated the report. "If (parents) combine their own personal knowledge, they can get a good idea of the safety in their school." The purpose of the reports, Davy said, is to help improve the state's schools through training and educational programs. "If there are high numbers of incidents, we want to work with them so that they can put in place best practices," Davy said. Warren County's reported incidents increased from 257 to 297 for the 2005-2006 reporting period; the majority of reported incidents, like all districts in the state, were of violence. As a whole, the state shed two schools from the list of those considered "persistently dangerous" the previous reporting year -- Trenton Central High School and East Side High School in Paterson. No state schools remain on the list. The overall increase of reported incidents in New Jersey resulted from a 2 percent increase in reported violence and 9 percent increase in incidents of vandalism, officials said. In the violence category, districts reported a 24 percent increase in incidents of harassment, intimidation and bullying and an 11 percent increase in reported threats. "The increase in the number of reported incidents could be the result of the heightened awareness of the serious nature of this kind of misconduct," Davy said. Trish Graber is Trenton correspondent for The Express-Times. She can be reached at 609-292-5154.