TRENTON
– Attorney General Paula T. Dow and
Division on Civil Rights Director Craig Sashihara
announced today that the Board of Education
in Emerson, Bergen County, has agreed to pay
a former student $130,000 to resolve allegations
the school district did not effectively address
alleged verbal, physical and cyber harassment
of the student that went on for years.
Under a settlement agreement finalized this
week, the Emerson school district makes no
admission of wrongdoing.
“This
is a fair outcome that resolves troubling
allegations – a young man subjected
to persistent harassment by other students
over a period of six years. Hopefully, this
case will serve as a reminder to others
that the State takes this issue very seriously,”
said Attorney General Dow.
”This
is an important settlement,” said
Director Sashihara, “not only because
it resolves the case without litigation
that could be protracted and emotionally
difficult for the victim, but because the
settlement incorporates action by the district
to ensure this does not happen again.”
Named
as sole Respondent in a Finding of Probable
Cause issued by the Division in November
2010, the Emerson Board of Education oversees
a district made up of three schools, including
two elementary schools and the Emerson Junior/Senior
High School.
According
to the Finding of Probable Cause, the district
did not deal adequately with continued harassment
of the male student – identified as
J.C., Jr. – that began in 2002 and
continued through 2007. The harassment occurred
while the victim was attending junior and
senior high school in Emerson.
The
alleged harassment was reported to school
officials on numerous occasions. It included
alleged name-calling and derogatory comments,
as well as physical assaults and threats
of violence. In one instance, students allegedly
created a page on a social networking Web
site that served as a forum for disparaging
remarks. Altogether, the victim’s
parents reported at least 17 instances of
harassment to school district officials.
In addition to the $130,000 pay-out to the
victim, the settlement calls for Emerson
schools to create clear protocols for the
reporting and investigation of harassment,
intimidation and bullying complaints, provide
adequate training of staff, implement policies
and programs to prevent bullying, and ensure
that teachers, administrators and students
are fully aware of those policies.
Director Sashihara thanked Deputy Attorney
General James Michael, Deputy Attorney General
Megan Harris and Conciliator Ana Limo-Magras
for their work in resolving the Emerson
Board of Education matter.
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