STAFFORD – Student safety incidents continue to trend downward across the Southern Regional School District, according to the district’s 2025-2026 Student Safety Data System (SSDS) Summative Report.
The annual report, which is required by the New Jersey Department of Education, was presented during a recent Board of Education meeting. It tracks reportable incidents involving violence, vandalism, weapons, substance abuse, harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB) as well as other incidents that result in disciplinary action. Superintendent Craig Henry said the district’s data shows student safety has steadily improved during the past five years.
“Over the last several years, we’re trending in a great direction,” Henry said. “Our numbers in schools are very low.”
Henry said he reviewed five years of district data while preparing the report and found a consistent decline in reportable incidents.
For the 2025-2026 school year from September 1 through June 16, the district reported 38 total incidents. The report included one violent incident, four acts of vandalism, 26 substance related incidents and no weapons offenses.
The district also recorded seven confirmed harassment, intimidation, and bullying cases as well as three alleged HIB incidents. In addition, there were 267 other incidents resulting in student detention.
According to the report, Southern Regional High School accounted for 29 reportable incidents, while Southern Regional Middle School reported nine. Substance related offenses represented the largest category, with 23 incidents at the high school and three at the middle school.
“It’s a testament to our entire operation, the administrative teams in buildings and teaching staff,” Henry said. “It’s also you guys at the board level that set the precedent.”
The Student Safety Data System is submitted annually by all New Jersey public school districts to monitor school safety trends and identify areas where additional support or intervention is needed.
The Board of Education accepted the report as part of its regular July meeting.
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