Members of the Assembly appropriated $1 million Monday that the Department of Education will administer to eligible school districts to help implement the new anti-bullying legislation. Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, co-sponsor of the measure, spoke with NJToday Managing Editor Mike Schneider about the effort.

Huttle said because the legislation is new, it’s not surprising that there is a learning curve for school districts. “The bill has only been around for six months so it does take time and some monies to help adjust to the new law,” she said, adding that a seven-member task force will also help to clarify any portions of the law that districts find unclear.

She pointed out that Allamuchy Township, which brought litigation against the anti-bullying law as an unfunded mandate, is a very small school district. Huttle said the larger districts she’s dealt with in Bergen County haven’t had many issues.

Huttle said the reports being filed are monitored to see how many issues are resolved. “We’re hoping with the training, the extra resources and the curriculum that the kids will finally get it and that teachers will be able to respond appropriately and more efficiently,” she said.

The issue has transcended politics, according to Huttle, who pointed out that the bill was bipartisan from the beginning. “We want to make sure this is for the kids,” she said.

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