PRINCETON, Nov. 20, 1999 -- NJSBAs Delegate Assembly on November 20 in Princeton overwhelmingly approved a major Association initiative to address school violence.

The school board representatives convening in Princeton considered the resolution from the Associations Board of Directors that contained a package of 16 policies designed to prevent youth violence in the schools.

"National studies show that school violence has dropped significantly during the 1990s," said Charles V. Reilly, NJSBA president. "However, because of the tragic events in Littleton and other school districts, the issue remains foremost in the minds of school board members, parents, students, teachersand our states leaders."

Thirty-one bills dealing with youth violence have already been introduced in the state legislature, and a New Jersey General Assembly task force issued a report in June with 68 recommendations that will likely become bills. Reilly explained that the NJSBA resolutionwhich addressed the Assembly recommendations dealing specifically with violence in schoolswill help the Association react more quickly before the Legislature, Congress or the courts.

Some of the proposals in NJSBAs resolution included:

• Supporting legislation to create gun-free zones within 1000 feet of a school building and making it a third- degree crime to illegally possess or sell weapons within that zone.
• Encouraging schools to adopt school crisis-management plans that specify procedures to be followed if an incident of violence occurs.
• Encouraging school districts to consider school-police liaison programs to foster healthy relationships between students and law enforcement.
• Supporting media literacy programs to make students aware of the difference between the fictional portrayal of violence and the actual impact of violence in real life.

"This is a no-brainer," said Garry E. Moore, a police officer and school board member in Deptford Township. "You want to keep violence out. Its our obligation. Its a common problem and must be solved by the community."

"I dont think we can leave one stone unturned in doing what we can do to prevent school violence," noted Celia Mangini of the Gloucester County Special Services Board of Education.