Public schools in Albury are home to an increasing amount of violence and incidents of concern, with one report detailing how a student stomped on and killed a turtle, before disembowelling the animal in front of another student.
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Two months earlier, an Albury student went on an excursion armed with a knife and threatened five other students who hid in a bathroom, yelling for help.
These were just two of the 55 incidents the Albury Principal Network reported to the NSW Department of Education in 2018.
Schools are required to inform the department of any incident involving drugs, technology, violence, weapons and welfare.
For the fourth consecutive year the number of incidents in the Albury region had increased. In 2018, 55 incidents were reported including 24 involving violence, a slight increase from 2017 when 54 occurred, 22 violent.
IN OTHER NEWS:
In 2016, 15 violent incidents occurred, a slight decrease from the 17 recorded in 2015. The total number of incidents in 2016 still increased from to 41, from 30 in 2015.
Last year a principal had to be taken to hospital by paramedics after a "highly agitated" student punched them in the head.
The student also kicked the deputy principal in the stomach and legs.
Schools contacted police multiple in 2018 about children being approached by strangers on their way to school.
On August 17, when two children were "repeatedly approached" by a man, while just two weeks later on September 5, an unknown man approached four Albury students and "has taken [redacted] of the victims without their permission", the report stated.
On November 13, an unknown man stopped in a car at a traffic light and yelled at a student on a scooter, asking if they wanted a lift to school.
Only July 26, police were contacted after an "extremely agitated" student made a bomb threat, less than a week later an "extremely aggressive" student from the Albury district had to be restrained after attempting to assault another student in class and threatening staff and students.
The department did not answer specific questions about incidents and trends in Albury, put to them by The Border Mail, but said in a statement "schools are among the safest places in the community".
In the statement, an Education Department spokesman said violence and anti-social behaviour were not tolerated in schools and the department supported schools to work closely with parents and relevant agencies.
"Every school day, teachers and more than 820,000 students work and learn safely at over 2200 public schools in NSW," it said.
"Any student involved in violence, bringing a weapon or illegal drugs to school, or who engages in criminal behaviour at school is subject to the department's discipline policy and their parents or carer will be notified."
The student who killed and disembowelled a turtle was suspended for animal cruelty, but the punishments for other students were not specified beyond 'disciplinary action'.
During 2018, police were called to schools in the Albury district at least 15 times, twice to respond to drug related incidents and on one occasion to look at a phone video, after one student physically assaulted another.
Ambulances attended Albury schools three times.
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