The New Jersey anti-bullying law, passed overwhelmingly by the legislature in January, is seen as the toughest in the country.

The bill gained momentum following the suicide of Rutgers student Tyler Clementi, who jumped to his death off the George Washington Bridge after his roommate allegedly filmed a romantic encounter between Clementi and another man without their knowledge and streamed it on the Internet.

The new law aims to protect children from harassment that would interfere with their education, but Montville Superintendent Paul Fried said it "goes over the top and requires us to jump through hoops" even though he fully agrees with its intent.

Students shouldn't notice anything different, he said.

"We hope they have enough faith and trust to come forth and to talk about what's happening to them, and then we would take action and try to support them," Fried said. "And we'll support and help them as we've always done."

For administrators, though, there are new forms to fill out, reporting mechanisms to follow, and, ultimately, a bullying "report card" to be posted on the district's website.

He said attorneys stand to gain the most from the law, as it could make it easier for parents to sue school districts.

"It's a very complex law," Fried said. "I think we (districts) will all struggle to comply."

It also spells out parents' rights, including the right to have a private hearing before the board of education.

Anti-bullying specialists

As part of the long list of provisions, teachers, administrators and other staff must undergo suicide prevention training with regards to harassment, intimidation and bullying.

Each school must establish an anti-bullying specialist, and a “safety team” which will work to investigate complaints, maintain a positive school environment, and implement programs mandated by the law. The district must appoint an anti-bullying coordinator to strengthen anti-bullying policies and oversee the specialists in each school.

In Montville, Fran Schlenhoff, the director of guidance, will act as the district coordinator. In the elementary schools, guidance counselors will serve as the anti-bullying specialists. At Lazar Middle School and Montville Township High School, the student assistance counselors or guidance counselors will serve as the specialists, Fried said.

Assistant Superintendent Beth Godett is overseeing the creation and implementation of the anti-bullying policy. Strauss Esmay Associates, a firm that helps craft policies for hundreds of districts in New Jersey, helped craft Montville's policy.

Upon learning of a bullying incident, school staff must report it in writing to the principal within one day, with a full investigation to follow in the next 10 days. This includes incidents that occur off school grounds, such as cyber-bullying or charged text messages. Administrators who fail to take action after becoming aware of a problem are subject to discipline.

Under the anti-bullying bill, school superintendents must report all of the incidents that occurred within the past six months in a public hearing, held twice a year. Those reports are provided to the state education department, which will include them in online "school report cards."

Although legislators have said enacting the bill will not create a need for additional staffing or funding, the New Jersey School Board Association said it may require additional compensation doled out to union members.

What is bullying?

According to Montville's anti-bullying policy, “harassment, intimidation, or bullying” means any gesture, any written, verbal or physical act, or any electronic communication, whether it be a single incident or a series of incidents that:

1. Is reasonably perceived as being motivated by either 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
2. By any other distinguishing characteristic; and that
3. Takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function, on a school bus, or off school grounds, that substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the school or the rights of other pupils; and that
4. A reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, that the act(s) will have the effect of physically or emotionally harming a pupil or damaging the pupil’s property, or placing a pupil in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm to his/her person or damage to his/her property; or
5. Has the effect of insulting or demeaning any pupil or group of pupils; or
6. Creates a hostile educational environment for the pupil by interfering with a pupil’s education or by severely or pervasively causing physical or emotional harm to the pupil.

Each day leading up to the start of the school year, we're bringing you information about Montville's schools.

Saturday: Who Are the New Teachers in Your School?

Sunday: St. Pius X Welcomes Rachel's Challenge

Monday: Montville's Anti-Bullying Policy

Tuesday: New Security Measures

Wednesday: First Day of School!