Hardyston board hears update on school safety radios, sign replacement and new preschool playground

The Hardyston Township Board of Education received updates Tuesday on safety procedures and facility improvements, including a new radio repeater project meant to improve direct communications among district schools and the police department.

Superintendent (title used as presented) reported that the district completed scheduled safety drills in October and November — fire drills at the elementary school, a lockdown and a shelter-in-place at the middle school — and said those exercises are complete for the period in question. He told the board the district will install equipment for a radio repeater system at the three schools and the police station “to allow all three schools to communicate with each other, not just through telephone but through handheld walkie-talkies,” with installation planned for the week of Dec. 17–18.

The superintendent also said the middle-school roadside sign was replaced for the first time since the school opened and described the preschool playground as essentially finished, with new equipment, rubberized surfacing and a surrounding fence. He said retired police officers will also carry radios so they can be in instant contact with the police department.

Why it matters: The communications upgrade is intended to speed emergency response and reduce reliance on phone transfers between offices during incidents, and the playground and sign work reflect capital and maintenance spending intended to improve school safety and appearance ahead of the new year.

Board action and next steps: The items were presented as informational updates; no formal procurement or new budget appropriation was introduced during the presentation. The administration indicated more details about installation timing and deployment would be shared with the board as they become available.