Dear Clinton Township School District Parents, 

In the beginning of the year, there are a variety of policies to read and sign off on. We always want parents to read each policy in its entirety but occasionally we will have updates that are created to help make parents aware of changes. 

Listed below are updates to and reinforcement of key aspects of our HIB policy

• In order for an incident or event  to rise to the legal definition of harassment, intimidation, or bullying there needs to be an actual or perceived distinguishing characteristic. 

• We take all incidents of misconduct  seriously. Even if an incident or event  does not meet the definition of HIB, we do a thorough investigation and assign consequences as  stated  in the code of conduct. 

• NEW. If an incident or event  is considered a Bias incident, that is an incident where the student is harassed  based on membership in a protected class (i.e., race, color, national origin, sex, ancestry, nationality, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status) as set forth in the Law Against Discrimination (N.J.S.A. 10:5), it must be reported to both the police and the county prosecutor by the school district. Here is an overview of the NJ youth bias task force report. 

• The words Bullying, Harassment and Intimidation have legal definitions. The misuse of these terms can be  problematic for the reasons outlined here.

Thank you for reading our HIB policy and working to support your child. Should you have any questions please reach out to your child’s school anti-bullying coordinator.