May 29, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 13 Midland Park Police will be conducting a security assessment of the three public school buildings in the borough this summer. Sgt. Greg Kasbarian, who attended a training program sponsored by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office last month, will be handling the job. The training sessions were conducted by a team of experts from Texas A&M University. Kasbarian will identify areas of vulnerability at Godwin, Highland and Midland Park High schools and make recommendations for corrective action. “Our schools are pretty good. They show no glaring vulnerabilities. Maybe we’ll find ways to improve what exists now,” said Kasbarian, who has also trained in active shooter handling procedures. Police to undertake school security assessment A19-year member of the department, he serves as the juvenile officer and heads the D.A.R.E. program. Kasparian said his on-site inspection may come across opportunities for improvement in lighting, grounds, equipment installation, etc. “If someone would do harm, they’ll take advantage of the opportunity to do harm. We want to remove that option,” he said. Among the obvious conditions that would need correction, Kasbarian said, are tree limbs that hang on roofs and shrubs that are too high, both of which cut down on visibility and offer concealment and/or access to a building. Window air conditioning units can be easily removed to gain access as well, and garbage containers too close to the building provide a place to hide something, he added. Kasbarian said everything observed during the survey is assigned a point value so that the results can be mathematically tabulated. Police Chief Mike Marra said once the public school assessments are concluded, he’d like to offer the service to the Eastern Christian School and the Children’s Therapy Center. The chief said that the daily school security checks are still taking place, with an officer signing in and making the rounds of each building. Outside patrols are conducted more often. “We want to make sure it’s a safe environment. We’re an extra pair of eyes,” the chief said. Marra said the Prosecutor’s Office was originally supposed to conduct the security assessments but was overwhelmed with requests. The training of local officers was devised to fill the requests. Magnets depicting the new Midland Park logo are still available. The 6-inch round rubber magnets can be attached to any metal surface and are suitable for affixing to any car or truck. The design, which focuses on the side of borough hall that features the windmill and the flag, was drawn up pro bono by local graphic designer John Sondey. It logo is also used on town stationery and other official items. Town logo magnets still available The magnets may be purchased for $5 at the municipal building, 280 Godwin Avenue; and at the Baseball Card Store, 45 Prospect Street. Sondey has also drawn up an updated rendering of the town map, which is available at borough hall free of charge to residents. It includes all the town streets, many of which were missing from previous versions.