Report Concludes Violence, Vandalism Low at Ridgewood Schools

By and large, Ridgewood students are well behaved, administrators concluded upon hearing the district's state-mandated violence and vandlism report Monday night.

Ridgewood High School Assistant Principal Basil Pizzuto presented the mid-year figures on documented behavioral issues reported in the 2012-2013 school year.

As part of the state's new anti-bullying bill, the state requires that the district tabulate instances of violence, vandalism, weapons, substance abuse, as well as .

According to Pizutto, between July and December, one incident of violence was reported, two instances of vandalism, two weapons were brought, five substance abuse cases were documented and four cases of HIB.

"The numbers seem to be similar to what we have before," the administrator told the board. 

Board members asked for more specifics on weapons brought as well as violence.

Per Pizzuto, the two weapons charges were students bringing pocket knives to school.

"It was not used as a weapon," he said. "That would be a bigger situation. They werent used for that purpose but they were brought into the school without permission."

Instances of violence, Pizzuto said, have not escalated beyond fist fights. 

"Thankfully in my time we haven't had anything too violent."

HIB incidents were in line with last year's level.