I joined a Board of Ed-created task force formed in response to the hazing incidents, and we were required to sign a confidentiality pledge. But the meetings are being held mid-day, and because of work and time commitments, I had to step off the task force.

However, I sent Superintendent, Dr. Brodow, and Millburn High School Principal, Dr. Miron, a series of recommendations, many of which came from members of the town's workmom list serv.  Dr. Brodow graciously called me and assured me that he would bring them to the task force.

Below is the list of recommendations; I've revised slightly so as to include links and fix some grammatical errors!  If you think of anything else, email Dr. Brodow (richard.brodow@millburn.org) or Dr. Miron (william.miron@millburn.org). 

 *Publicize the punishment taken against the perpetrators of the hazing this year.
 I understand and completely support the Administration's determination to respect the privacy and identity of the students who came forward and took responsibility for the hazing.
But the community--and especially, this class of juniors and their parents--need to know that students who haze will receive serious consequences; unfortunately, Dr. Brodow's announcement before the Board--that there will be "be a disciplinary component along with community service and atonement,"--does not convey zero tolerance.
On the contrary, it is vague and conveys the impression that the transgressors are receiving a slap on the wrist. After all, community service--while perhaps an inconvenience to those involved--can be helpful on the resume.
If the administration's lack of a written, anti-hazing policy prevents harsher punishment, such as suspension, then at least say that and make clear what the punishment will be going forward so as to serve as deterrent.

*Develop a strong anti-hazing policy with clear consequences, and then publicize the policy. Both parents and students need to understand what hazing is and how it is different from bullying and what the consequences will be. Language needs to be included into the district's bullying policy or create a separate policy, as Denville did. Researchers who conducted national studies of high school hazing concluded that districts should create separate anti-hazing policies. I gave Debra Fox, a board member on the task force, a copy of an important, recent study as well. I'm providing link here.

*Give parents and students input by creating a web site or some mechanism on edline to receive comments, suggestions and tips from the community.
 One reason why there was such a media avalanche is that parents in this community were willing to talk anonymously to the press. While I was not one of them and felt that national publicity wasn't going to be productive, I understood parents' motivation; they felt frustrated and felt the only way to make themselves heard was to go to the press.
In an ideal world, yes, these parents would attend PTO and Board of Ed meetings, but many of them have demanding jobs and can't.  But they  have valuable ideas. Give them a means of communicating--and making themselves heard. Invite them to share their ideas--and their tips (perhaps they'll tell you via email if they've heard of juniors planning a hazing activity.).

Make them your partners, and you'll be much more likely to get buy in for administration policies, and you'll get far fewer disgruntled parents leaking to the press later. 

*Take a close look at school districts that are doing it right. Northern Highlands took a tough approach against girls' field hockey team hazing and won out. 
Glen Ridge moved on from an awful hazing incident.  Ridgewood, I'm also told, has successfully taken a tough approach against hazing.
The key: Go after the small infractions, as well as the large ones.

*Institute an evidence-based K-12, bullying prevention curriculum. All of the public testimony from parents about bullying in the elementary school indicates that we need a more comprehensive approach than the character education program currently in place. There are many evidence-based, bullying prevention programs, as you know. I'm told that Dr. Dan Olweus, an international expert on bullying prevention, who has developed evidence based programs that have been successful for grades 3-10.  
These need to be investigated.

*Start the ninth graders a day or two earlier than the upper class students. Perhaps this is a time that the school could meet with ninth graders and help make them feel empowered to report incidents.   I'm told Columbia High School in Maplewood does this, as well as a few other schools in NJ.

*Educate the athletic director and coaches about hazing, and make them accountable.
 Am I the only person hearing allegations that hazing goes on with the football team at the high school? Again, I have no way of knowing if this is true, but given that the hazing on the soccer team has occurred for 15 plus years, it's only reasonable to question why the athletics director and coach were unaware or unable to stop it. I know my stance may not be popular, and the athletics director has been at the school a long time, but this is the elephant in the room and has to be addressed. 
 I believe that  Northern Highlands high school principal addressed this problem when the girls' field hockey team was found to be hazing.
The principal at the time is now superintendent of the district, so he can be contacted.

*Send out periodic reports to parents and the community summarizing the work of the task force. I'd put this information on the web site you create. Make sure that there is transparency, and make parents part of the process in rooting out this pernicious tradition and removing the ugly stain on Millburn's name. Stumble It!