Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • October 9, 2013 Ho-Ho-Kus Hamm asks: Consider EMT credentials when hiring by Jennifer Crusco The captain of the Ho-Ho-Kus Volunteer Ambulance Corps has asked the borough council to consider job appli- cants’ emergency medical technician credentials, and their willingness to learn, when hiring staff members. Gordon Hamm told the governing body that the corps will pay for those who want to take the EMT courses in the evening hours. State and/or county funding is often avail- able to cover the expenses. “We are lacking during the day!” Hamm said. “The police department used to come out as EMTs, but (those responders) are now retiring.” He added that some borough hall and department of public works employees are EMTs, but cannot always come to calls. Ho-Ho-Kus Mayor Thomas Randall noted that it has become tougher to be an EMT, and many towns are in the same position. He noted that Ho-Ho-Kus employees Jeff Pattman, Gary Tyler, and Laura Borchers, and some stay-at-home mothers respond to emergencies, but are not always available. He added that Ho-Ho-Kus runs on volun- teers, many of whom already have work commitments. Hamm reported that four high school students just com- pleted the concentrated summer EMT course. He pointed out that the course is particularly difficult as students have fewer hours to learn the necessary material. The new teen EMTs include Jennifer Rios, Cole Sonett, Zoe Peck, and Casey Reilly. Hamm added that, if enough EMTs are not avail- able during the day, Ho-Ho-Kus can call for mutual aid (responders from another community), but that leads to longer response times. He also pointed out that he is look- ing toward the future, adding that people get tired and people retire. “It’s on all our minds,” Mayor Randall responded. Hamm welcomes prospective volunteers to call the ambulance corps headquarters at (201) 445-7672 for addi- tional information. In May, eight new members signed on for duty, includ- ing the four high school students who completed the emer- gency medical technician class during the summer. In the spring, the corps received donations that made it possible for the borough’s organization to donate its old stretchers and oxygen bottles to another agency. At that time, the corps had started mutual aid training with Mid- land Park and Waldwick. Workshops are held in the three towns, with each participating municipality taking a turn as host. The members of the corps have also been busy with CPR certifications and blood-borne pathogen training renewals. In addition, the membership has been undergoing “rope rescue” training, which Hamm said involves rappelling exercises for EMTs. Last year, Hamm was certified in rope rescue as were long-time volunteers Carol and Gary Tyler. Training also includes tabletop exercises and refresher classes that involve patient assessment, splinting, bandag- ing, and hazmat instruction. The corps provides coverage at various local events, including the Waldwick Chamber of Commerce’s 5K. Hamm joined the ambulance corps as a driver in 2009 while he was still a member of the Ho-Ho-Kus Council. He then became an emergency medical technician, and was subsequently promoted to crew chief, and then to lieuten- ant. This year, he was sworn in as captain, succeeding long- time captain Carol Tyler, who is now the organization’s president. Specialist educates the educators Educator Kim Mar- shall recently visited with representatives from the Quad Districts (Ho-Ho- Kus, Allendale, and Upper Saddle River’s K-8 school districts and Northern Highlands Regional High School District) to dis- cuss his teacher evaluation rubric. This year, all school districts were required to select a new teacher evalu- ation system, and the Quad Districts opted to use Mar- shall’s method. His recent appearance in Bergen County allowed school offi- cials to learn more about the rubric and to discuss ideas regarding the best ways to (continued on page 31) Kim Marshall (second from right) met with leaders from the Quad Districts who will be using Marshall’s teacher evaluation system. Pictured with Marshall (L-R) are Upper Saddle River Curriculum Coordinator Devin Severs, Allendale’s Hillside School Principal Anastasia Marou- lis, Ho-Ho-Kus Public School Principal Dr. Alexis Eckert, and Ho-Ho-Kus Superintendent Deborah Ferrara.