Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • September 18, 2013 Ho-Ho-Kus Courtyard classroom gets additional touches by Jennifer Crusco The Ho-Ho-Kus K-8 Public School’s “courtyard class- room,” recently received some extra attention in the form of a new bear sculpture and a butterfly garden. According to Ho-Ho-Kus Superintendent Deborah Fer- rara, the bear was carved from the stump of a tree that was removed from the area. The bear, which is the handi- work of Jim Stafford, has been dubbed “Michaela Bear,” in honor of former school trustee Michaela Donadio, the district’s longest-serving trustee who recently completed over 12 years on the school board. Ferrara donated the cost of Stafford’s services as a gift to the students and to the Ho-Ho-Kus Board of Education. The butterfly garden, Ferrara added, will be used by the kindergarteners, who nurture caterpillars through the met- amorphic process. The butterflies that ultimately emerge will be now released in the courtyard classroom. Work on this outdoor instruction area began on school grounds in the spring of 2012. The project was made pos- sible by a $10,000 grant from the Ho-Ho-Kus Education Foundation and a gift of professional services provided by the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association in conjunction with PLANET, the Professional Land Care Network. “They returned this year to do more,” the superinten- dent said of the landscape professionals. “They were very generous to us.” Ho-Ho-Kus teachers Michele Meyers, Carla Kramer, (continued on page 17) Mrs. Meyers and her first grade class pose with ‘Michaela Bear,’ Principal Dr. Alexis Eckert, and Superintendent Deborah Ferrara. Trustees mulling possible track & field project The Ho-Ho-Kus Board of Education is now engaged in preliminary discussions of a possible track and field project at Lloyd Field. The property, which is adjacent to the Ho-Ho-Kus Public School building on Lloyd Road, currently includes the field and a cinder track. Ho-Ho-Kus Board of Education President Colleen Federer said the board is in an “extremely preliminary stage” of discussions. She indicated that the track and field issue arose when the state announced that districts could apply for ROD (regular operating district) grants. The trustees later learned that the project was not eligible for a ROD grant, but the district may be able to apply for a debt service aid grant. “We’re just exploring all of our options,” Federer said last week. She added that the board is gathering informa- tion and holding preliminary meetings. “This is a potentially expensive project. We would like to receive a state grant and private-sector funds, which would be integral to the project,” Federer said. “We know some- thing has to be done, and we are exploring our options. “The cinder track requires specific, expensive care, and is in a constant state of disrepair.” In addition to being used by the students at the school, the Lloyd Field property is used by local recreation teams that include participants from Ho-Ho-Kus and Saddle River. Federer noted that the field is used for a number of sports, including football and baseball. Asked about the number of individuals who use the field, Federer estimated that over 750 children use the property on an annual basis. Ho-Ho-Kus Superintendent Deborah Ferrara com- mented that any potential project would be years away from coming to fruition. She added that the board plans to dis- cuss this item further at its Sept. 24 public meeting. That 7 p.m. session will be held at the school, which is located at 70 Lloyd Road. J. CRUSCO