The Florence Township Board of Education believes that a safe and civil environment in school is necessary for students to learn and achieve high academic standards. Since students learn by example, school administrators, faculty, staff, and volunteers are required to demonstrate appropriate behavior, treating others with civility and respect, and refusing to tolerate harassment, intimidation or bullying. Harassment, intimidation or bullying, like other disruptive or violent behaviors, is conduct that disrupts both a student's ability to learn and a school's ability to educate its students in a safe environment. Therefore, the school district will not tolerate acts of harassment, intimidation or bullying. “Harassment, intimidation or bullying” is defined as any gesture, any written, verbal or physical act, or any electronic communication, whether it be a single incident or a series of incidents, that is reasonably perceived as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory disability, or by any other distinguishing characteristic, that takes place on school grounds, at any school-sponsored function or on a school bus, or off school grounds, in accordance with law, that substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the school or the rights of other students, and that:
A. A reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, will have the effect of physically or emotionally harming a student or
damaging the student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm to his/her person or damage to his/her property; or
B. Has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student or group of students; or
C. Creates a hostile educational environment for the student by interfering with the student’s education or by severely or pervasively causing physical or emotional harm to the student. “Electronic communication” means a communication that is transmitted by means of an electronic device, including, but not limited to a telephone, cellular phone, computer, or pager.
Christopher Butler
Director of Special Services
email: cbutler@florence.k12.nj.us
Each building also has an Anti-bullying Specialist.
They are:
Roebling Elementary School :
Mrs. Sara Trombly, School Guidance Counselor (609) 499-4640
Riverfront School :
Ms. Jenn Fulton, School Guidance Counselor
Ms. Kristin Lee, Guidance Counselor (609) 499-4647
Florence Memorial High School :
Mr. John Lamaestra, Substance Abuse Counselor
Mrs. Nancy Sebastian, School Guidance Counselor
Mr. Joe Varga, School Guidance Counselor (609) 499-4620
If you have any questions about the District HIB Policy, please contact the District Anti-Bullying Coordinator. Any incident of bullying should immediately be reported to a building administrator and/or, the building anti-bullying specialist. Any report made to a staff member will then be communicated to a building administrator and the specialist to be addressed. As parents and guardians, you play a critical role in preventing HIB in our schools. Talk to your children about respecting and accepting others. Send a clear message that harassment, bullying, and intimidation are never acceptable ways to interact with others, and model these expectations for your children.
.png)
