New addition for WR Doyle school

By Cindy Capitani
Editor-in-Chief

Photo, Cindy Capitani Mayor and State Sen. Paul A. Sarlo, cuts the ribbon of the new addition to the Catherine Doyle Elementary School with Wood-Ridge Board of Education President Bob Talamini. Shown from left: Wood-Ridge Councilman Ed Pfeifer, Sarlo, Talamini, Wood-Ridge Superintendent of Schools Elaine Giugliano and Catherine Doyle Principal Barbara A. Laudicina.

WOOD-RIDGE — A dedication ceremony was held Jan. 22 at Catherine A. Doyle Elementary School to mark the new 3,200-square-foot library and media center to accommodate 350 students in grades K-4.

“Without every person here, none of this would have happened,” said Wood-Ridge Superintendent of Schools Dr. Elaine Giugliano. “To put together an expansion like this is tremendous.”

Wood-Ridge Mayor and State Sen. Paul Sarlo spoke at the event, as did Dr. Aaron Graham, Bergen County Superintendent of Schools; Robert Talamini, Wood-Ridge Board of Education President; PTA President Barbara Scalone; and Judy Sullivan, VFW Ladies Auxiliary.

“The physical structure we put students in plays a role in excellence,” said Graham, emphasizing the goal of excellence in Bergen County Schools.

Sarlo said he and his administration enjoy a very strong relationship with the board of education. “We made a conscious decision to rebuild our school district,” he said. “The single, biggest investment we must make as taxpayers is in our school children … We have to keep our children on the cutting edge.”

Giugliano said the library and media center are in the final stages, as books, DVDs and other lending materials still have to be delivered and shelved. She expected to have an open house in the spring.

The dedication of the library and media center is part of a two-phase school construction proposal approved by borough voters in 2002. Proposal I called for $8.4 million in additions and renovation to Doyle, the middle school and the high school, with $2.7 coming from state grants and $5.7 raised through local bonds. Proposal II is a $1.9 million project for the three schools, with $672,000 coming from state grants and $1.3 million from bonds.