November 14, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 7 Ho-Ho-Kus Trustees to decide on school makeup days by Jennifer Crusco Ho-Ho-Kus school trustees will soon decide how to make up the days lost to Hurricane Sandy. The superstorm, which hit the area on Oct. 29, closed the K-8 public school for six days, including Monday, Nov. 5. The widespread loss of electrical power, and many downed trees and power lines, made for unsafe conditions throughout the state, and the lack of available gasoline became an issue for those who drive to work. At press time, local and out-of-state work crews from Alabama, Oklahoma, and Texas, were still restoring power to various areas of Bergen County. Last week, Ho-Ho-Kus Superintendent Deborah Ferrara outlined a plan to recoup the six school days. Ferrara pointed out that Nov. 8 and 9 constituted two makeup days. The teachers’ convention that was scheduled for those dates was cancelled, allowing school to remain open. Ferrara noted that three makeup dates were automatically built into the 2012-13 school schedule. Those dates include April 1, May 24, and June 24. With the use of all five of these dates, Ferrara noted that only one more makeup date would be necessary. She said she is currently working with the school board regarding options. She explained that the in-service day now planned for January could be a half-day of school, the district could give up one day of the February break or the April break, or the district could opt to extend the school year by a day. The educator pointed out this preliminary plan assumes that no additional snow days or emergency closings will be needed during this academic year. Ferrara pointed out that the winter break is now scheduled for Feb. 18 through 22, and the spring break is set for April 8 through 12. She said the district may decide to cut into the February break because Northern Highlands Regional High School, which accepts students from HoHo-Kus, may be open at that time. Ferrara said the board would consider the matter at its Nov. 20 meeting, which will be held at the public school on Lloyd Road at 7 p.m. Ironically, while the school was still without power, the Ho-Ho-Kus Office of Emergency Management, led by Jay Ludwig, set up a shelter at the school’s multi-purpose room for residents who had no power or heat at their homes. With the use of a generator, emergency officials heated the room, which served as a temporary home for some residents and a dining room for many more. One municipal employee noted that local shelter volunteers, including the Ho-HoKus Fire Department Women’s Auxiliary, were serving meals to approximately 200 people each evening. Those without power also had an opportunity to charge their electronic devices and cell phones at the shelter. Ho-Ho-Kus Police Chief John Wanamaker took the opportunity to remind residents: “If you are not currently on our Reverse 911 list, call to be added. If you have a change of information or a new phone number, call the police desk at (201) 652-1700.” The borough’s Reverse 911 system allows the municipality to relay important information to residents via telephone. While many residents’ home numbers are listed as part of the Reverse 911 system, citizens also have the option of registering their cell phone numbers so they may receive messages when they are away from home.