February 6, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 15 Midland Park students who have been determined to pose a safety threat to staff or other students may be excluded from school “in crisis situations” pending appropriate mental health clearance under a policy being considered for adoption by the board of education. The policy will be up for final vote at the board’s Feb. 26 meeting. The proposed policy is intended to address mental health related issues only and does not supersede the implementation of appropriate disciplinary action. Under the policy, the student’s exclusion would have no disciplinary consequence, and warranted disciplinary action would follow normal procedures. During any period of exclusion, students would be provided with appropriate home or other out- of-school instruction in accordance with state law. The proposed policy provides the following examples (not exclusive) of crisis situations: • Actions creating an imminent danger to him/herself or others, e.g., suicidal or homicidal ideation(s) or attempt(s); • Verbalization(s) or other action(s) threatening the health, safety or well-being of him/herself, staff or other students or reflecting an intent or plan to harm him/ herself or others or indicating that he/she may be at risk of causing harm to him/herself or others; or Board considers policy to deal with students in crisis • Possession of object(s) or material(s) posing a threat to the health, safety or wellbeing of him/herself, staff or other students. In case of a crisis situation, staff members shall immediately notify the school principal, or his/her designee, who shall immediately notify the Crisis Intervention Team; the superintendent of schools; and the student’s parent or legal guardian. The Crisis Intervention Team consists of the principal and vice-principal, guidance counselor, school psychologist, student assistance coordinator and/or social worker, The proposed policy provides that in response to every report, the Crisis Intervention Team shall conduct a student interview to assess whether or not the student presents a potential danger to him/herself or others, and to determine whether or not the student requires a mental health assessment prior to reinstatement. Provisions shall be made for the appropriate care and supervision of the student pending either a determination by the Crisis Intervention Team that the student’s exclusion is not required; or the student’s release to his or her parent/guardian. If the team determines that a mental health assessment is required prior to reinstatement, the student’s parent/guardian will be notified. The assessment must be completed by a licensed or certified mental health professional (e.g., psychologist, psychiatrist, social worker or psychiatric nurse). Assessments completed by evaluators selected by the school district shall be at the expense of the school district, with parents paying the cost of an evaluator of their own choosing. The evaluator will then have to issue a clearance letter containing a specific statement that the student does not present a danger to him/herself or others before the student may return to school. Re-entry to school will be permitted only following a re-entry meeting with the child and his/her parents/guardian and an appropriate school district designee. Discussion at the meeting may include, but is not limited to: consideration of CST referral, as appropriate; discussion with parents regarding followup treatment, as necessary; and discussion with parents regarding access to additional evaluative information (beyond clearance letter). Plans are moving closer to reality for drainage improvements to Parker and the Greenwood/Central avenues/park and ride projects in Midland Park. The borough council recently awarded bids for these projects at prices lower than anticipated. The Parker Place drainage project, under consideration for several years, was awarded to Trino Associates of Paramus at a cost of $118,700. He was the lowest of 16 bidders, which ranged up to $263,788. Parker Place residents have been complaining about flooding conditions on their street for years. The block-long street has no storm drains, and the existing curbing is too low to contain the runoff from Post Street, which originates on Godwin Avenue. Plans call for 10 catch basins and connecting storm drains from Post Street to Cross Avenue to Paterson Avenue. Sidewalks on the west side of the street will be raised, curbing will be installed and new driveway aprons will be constructed. The project will be done in early spring Bids lower than expected and take about three weeks to complete. Original estimates when the project was first proposed in 2008 ran to $250,000 The Greenwood Avenue project, at a price of $307,268.90, was awarded to Zuccaro, Inc. of Saddle Brook, the lowest of 15 bids, which ranged up to $565,862. Original estimates had run to $365,000. Work will include repaving the street from Birch Street to the Wyckoff border and delineating and paving the commuter parking area adjacent to the bus station off Central Avenue, which serves five bus lines. This area, which is now unimproved, is used for resident-parking only for nine cars in its present condition. The work will be funded through NJ Department of Transportation grants from 2010 and 2011. The 2010 grant was $150,000, with $146,000 received in 2011. An additional $90,000 was unexpectedly allocated for the park-and-ride area in mid2011, allowing the project to be done all at once.