BERKELEY TOWNSHIP, NJ – Schools in New Jersey are supposed to have a zero-tolerance policy toward harassment, intimidation and bullying. The reality is, many New Jersey school districts fall short when it comes to dealing with bullies and often the victims are the ones who pay the largest price.
In the case of the death of Berkeley Township teenager Adriana Kuch, the district administration appears to have acted in a completely negligent manner.
Those mourning her death are wondering why the police were not involved until after the 14-year-old girl took her own life after being beaten and bullied inside Central Regional High School.
In response to incidents involving the tragic death of Central Regional High School student Adriana Kuch, Senator Christopher Connors, Assemblyman Brian Rumpf, and Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove intend to introduce legislation that would require school officials to immediately report to the police any assault that results in the injury of a student.
Instead of calling the police, Superintendent Dr. Triantafillos Parlapanides instead blamed Adriana Kuch for her own problems, alleging behavioral problems. Parlapanides even went as far as telling a foreign newspaper that Ms. Kuch engaged in possible drug use, a claim unsubstantiated. He even went as far as smearing the girl and her family to a British tabloid, the Daily Mail.
“Immediately following the death of Adriana Kuch, our delegation reached out to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office to gain a better understanding of the incident and to put us in a more informed position to determine if amending existing state law is necessary and appropriate,” the legislators said in a statement today. “After careful consideration, our delegation is drafting new legislation that would require school officials to immediately report to the police any assault that results in the injury of a student. Amending state law would provide consistency, meaning that an incident of assault would no longer be dealt with as a matter of a school’s individual policy.”
The new legislation would apply to assaults resulting in injury that occurs on school grounds or school facilities.
“Those who wish to cause harm to their fellow students should not be able to view schools as sanctuaries to commit acts of violence. Any assault resulting in injury on school property should be treated the same as an assault that occurs anywhere else,” Gove said. “Importantly, we want to convey our heartfelt sympathies to family, friends, and fellow schoolmates of Adriana Kuch and to the community as a whole which has had to endure this terrible tragedy.”