Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • April 17. 2013 Midland Park The phone systems in Midland Park’s three public school buildings will be upgraded over the summer as part of the district’s security improvements. Last December the board of education had agreed to the measures in response to parents’ concerns in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy in Newtown, CT. Last week the board approved the purchase of Toshiba intercom/phone systems for the three buildings at a cost of $15,425. The funds were transferred from the administrative stipends account that had an unused balance and thus will not affect the educational program, said board Presi- School intercom upgrades will enhance security dent William Sullivan. Installation work is expected to cost $14,000, with funds coming from an existing information technology account. These purchases will expand the existing system so that every classroom has a phone. The phones will act as an intercom system to connect to the central office and also allow for a direct 911 call in case of emergency. Sullivan said that additional security upgrades are being assessed and will be brought to the board for approval in the near future. All the upgrades will be funded through the general fund balance and will be transferred from line items as required, explained trustee Robert Schiffer, the board’s finance chairman. The facilities’ referendum defeated last December included more than $250,000 for an intercom system. That expenditure, The students in Midland Park High School’s 21st century media course have taken third place in a statewide marketing campaign contest to educate teens about the dangers of distracted driving. Drive2Thrive is a project-based learning experience designed to guide New Jersey high school students in building and implementing a marketing plan that will influence their peers to adopt safer driving habits. The students in the course, which is taught by Brian Ersalesi, created a marketing campaign that would reach their target demographic: their peers. Students analyzed the effectiveness of current public service announcements focused on distracted driving through the lens of the five stages of an effective marketing campaign. Afterward, the students surveyed their peers and collected and compiled quantitative and qualitative data to measure what teens believe is “missing” from the current crop of videos. They then worked to create their own origi- Media class wins third place in statewide event however, also included new clock and bell systems, which are not part of this project. By expanding the current phone system the board was able to keep the cost down to approximately $29,000, said Business Administrator Stacy Garvey. nal PSAs, which are currently airing on MPTV, Cablevision Channel 77, and Fios Channel 47. The campaign concluded with a pledge drive. In March, members of the course manned a table outside the cafeteria where students were encouraged to sign a safe driving pledge. Those who did so received a thumb-band imprinted with the words, “Text Free Driver.” Over 95 percent of the students and staff at Midland Park High School signed the pledge. The Allstate Foundation and the USA TODAY Charitable Foundation created Drive2Thrive because there is no more effective voice than teens talking to their peers. The Drive2Thrive program is aligned with common core state standards, enhances students’ critical thinking and problem solving skills, enriches their literacy skills, encourages them to connect with their school communities, and empowers them to take ownership of their learning.