Mahwah November 10, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 9 District issues ‘good news’ report on vandalism by Frank J. McMahon Mahwah Superintendent of Schools Charles Montesano described the annual violence and vandalism report as “good news” for the school district and the community. Montesano presented the report with comparisons of violence, vandalism, weapons offenses, and substance abuses over the past four years. The incidents of violence and vandalism declined while the number of weapons abuse incidents remained the same and substance abuse incidents rose by one between 2008-09 and 2009-10. The number of violent incidents in the district declined from 14 in 2008-09 to four in 2009-10; the number of vandalism incidents declined from 80 in 2008-09 to 47 in 2009-10; the number of weapons incidents remained at two from 2008-09 to 2009-10; and the number of substance abuse incidents increased from four in 2008-09 to five in 2009-10. Overall, there was no cost to the school district due to the violence, vandalism, weapons, or substance abuse incidents in 2009-10, while there was a $100 cost to the school district in the previous school year. Montesano’s report explained that incidents of violence include simple assault in which a person attempts to cause, threatens to cause, or purposely causes bodily injury to another; or aggravated assault in which a person attempts to cause, or purposely causes, serious bodily injury to another, which creates a substantial risk of death or causes permanent disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the functions of any bodily member or organ. Violence also includes fights, defined as a physical confrontation entered into by two or more students by mutual consent in which physical harm is intended, but it does not include a “shoving match” or a minor scuffle. In addition, it includes robbery or the obtaining money or other material things by means of violence or threat of immediate violence; and extortion by obtaining money or other material things by means of a stated or implied threat of future violence. According to the report, vandalism includes arson or deliberately setting fire to school district property or someone’s personal property, or knowingly setting off a fire alarm when no fire exists; burglary; damage to the school; fireworks offenses; theft; and trespassing. Weapons incidents include bomb offenses and/or the use of an explosive device; the possession of a firearm; assault with a firearm; assault with another weapon such as a knife, club, stun gun, chain, mace, pepper spray, or other instrument of violence; possession of such a weapon; and the sale or transfer of a weapon. A substance use offense is when a student is found to be under the influence of alcoholic beverages, marijuana, or other drug not including cigarettes, or when there is an indication that the pupil has used anabolic steroids. Montesano added that the student need not be caught in the act of using the sub- stance for the incident to be recorded as a use. Substance abuse also includes possession when a student is found with alcohol, marijuana, or any other drug not including cigarettes in his/her locker or vehicle, or on his/her person; or when a student is found to be selling, buying, or giving alcohol or other controlled dangerous substances, including anabolic steroids, to others, or employs others to do the same. ooking for a L eat gift idea? gr Give a gift that will endure... You name it... Let’s Frame It! Hours: Tues-Fri 10-5:30, Sat 9-4:30 27 East Prospect St. • Waldwick 201-670-7666 • www.LetsFrame.com 11-25-09----Let’sFrameItHoliday3x-3col x 3” Mike for PROOF... from Janine