The safety of skateboarders is a paramount issue regarding their illegal use of the John F. Kennedy School for a skateboarding course.
By:Al Wicklund
JAMESBURG — The safety of skateboarders is a paramount issue regarding their illegal use of the John F. Kennedy School for a skateboarding course, school Principal Shirley Bzdewka said Thursday.
“It’s possible one of the skateboarders could be hurt at 10 o’clock at night and no one would know or be able to get help,” Ms. Bzdewka said.
The principal said the youngsters, usually teen-agers, have a complex trail which includes the steps and use of the handicapped ramp on the Davison Avenue side of the elementary school. building.
“They wax the edge of a step and the railings on the ramp to gain speed,” she said.
Ms. Bzdewka said the skateboarding usually starts after 7 p.m. which, with the season’s fading light, adds to the risk of injury.
“We’ve asked the police to patrol. There have been no-skateboarding signs posted, but they’re disregarded and get torn down,” she said.
Police Chief David Lester said, after an initial complaint from the school about juveniles’ skateboarding, his patrols were alerted to the problem.
“We have had no further complaints,” Chief Lester said.
Borough Council President Tony LaMantia said he has talked to some of the skateboarders and has invited both them and their parents to the recreation meeting at the end of this month, to discuss the possibility of raising funds to help the borough meet the cost of constructing a skateboarding facility.
The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29.
Schools Superintendent Richard G. Ballard told the Board of Education at its Sept. 6 meeting that he is more concerned about wax on the stairs now that school has started and traffic in and out of the school has increased. Some teachers have slipped on the wax, he said.
Both the borough council and the school board acted last year to prohibit skateboarding on school grounds and on sidewalks adjacent to schools.
The ban has had no apparent effect on the JFK School skateboarders.
Ms. Bzdewka said the school’s no-skateboarding signs have had a short life.