Union County Addresses Middle School Problems

Have you ever drank, smoked or used drugs? How old were you when you started? Would you be surprised to learn that more than 11 percent of Union County’s Middle School students admitted to using alcohol before they were 11 and smoking by age 12?

More than 10 percent of the students said they had attacked someone intending to harm them, according to the study, which was shown last week to school superintendents and principals across the county. These were the issues that were discussed at forum for school district leaders at Kean University in Union County.

Acting Union County Prosecutor Grace Park scheduled the seminar, which addressed topics facing teachers and school administrators, including juvenile drug use, sexting, sex crimes and school security.

"We really wanted to focus on the trends in Union County," Park said.

The seminar was the first in what Parks plans as an annual exchange between law enforcement and school officials.

The program developed from a conversation Park had with interim county Executive Schools Superintendent Kathleen Serafino.