June 19, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 3 Waldwick The Waldwick Board of Education will be installing lightning protection systems near its ball fields in the near future. “We’ve been talking about it long enough. We’ve decided to move forward,” said Board President Patricia Levine during last week’s board of education meeting. “We’re under a lot of pressure to do something.” Dr. Dominic Novelli, who heads the buildings and grounds committee, said the board’s concern centers around safety and liability. “The fields are on board property, and we can be held responsible if something happens,” Levine said. The board president added that in addition to looking into the different options available for a warning system, cost estimates would have to be obtained and a policy would have to be written on procedures to be followed once the warning system is operational. She said one option that is “useless” is using text messaging as a warning system. Superintendent Dr. Patricia Raupers said that coaches, both school and recreational using the fields, would have to be trained as to when to start getting off the field and where to take the children if the emergency Board decides to install lightning warning systems arises. Resident Frank McKenna, speaking from the audience, said all that would be needed would be using common sense in dealing with a storm situation. “Our policy would be for when common sense is lacking,” said Dr. Novelli. “We have to educate the community as to what to do when the siren or strobe goes off.” Dr. Raupers explained that in some instances, as was the case in Demarest last year, where a man died after being struck by lightning while watching his grandson play soccer, people on the field do not hear any thunder or detect any signs of a storm. “This would be an extra layer of protection,” Dr. Raupers said. Lightning prediction systems, which can be mounted on school or other buildings, continuously monitor the atmosphere’s electrostatic energy as far away as 15 miles and evaluate the potential for lightning within a certain radius, providing the necessary alerts with horn blasts followed by flashing strobe lights. Once the system determines that the hazardous condition is past, an all-clear signal is sounded and the lights stop flashing. Other systems are monitored remotely and send an e-blast or text message with the warning. Last year the board had approached the borough about the possibility of installing the detection systems as a joint venture, but nothing progressed from that point. “We did the research, but the impetus died down. The board did not pursue it,” said Borough Administrator Gary Kratz. “Now that it has come up to the forefront again, we will wait for John Griffin (school business administrator) to do his research and see what he comes up with and then sit down and discuss it again,” he added. Achievements recognized Several Waldwick High School seniors were recognized for their achievements during last week’s board of education meeting. Pictured, from left, track star Patricia McHugh, artist Meredith Levine; Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patricia Raupers; Valedictorian Mayumi Skorski; Board President Patricia Levine; tennis champion Nicholas Bradley; and track star Nicholas Oravetz.