Board of Ed nixes night games in narrow vote Parents not happy with decision; board cites security concerns BY JAY BODAS Staff Writer In a split 5-4 vote, the Edison Township Board of Education recently upheld its decision earlier this year to suspend Friday night home games for all outdoor fall and summer sports. "Our concern is the safety and security of everyone," board Vice President Joseph Shannon said at the end of the Aug. 21 meeting. Shannon is also a lieutenant in the Edison Police Department. "There are people in front of the school, behind the school, behind the bleachers, at the snack bars," he said. "Security officers at the school have interceded in numerous events, and everyone has told us, we have a problem here, and there is a potential for a major incident. At the end of the day, I can make that decision whether no one is here or 500 people are here. It is based in the best interest of everyone who attends these events." The recent decision affirms a vote the board took on the issue earlier this year. Football was the only exception the board allowed for some night games. Both high schools will be allowed to hold two Friday night home games. All away games and winter sports such as wrestling and basketball were not included in the decision. The majority of audience members who spoke at the meeting supported the night games. Roughly 75 parents and student athletes attended the meeting. The players are "the ones really getting punished," by the board's decision, said Jimmy Cooper, a member of the Edison High School football team. "We just want to give you a perspective of the football players," Cooper said. "[Seniors] have one more chance to run out to the field to play or play an instrument under the lights. Under the lights is a totally different story. Playing on Friday night is what gets us through the hard practices, because on Friday night, everything is all right. It's as simple as that." Friday night football adds to a sense of community," said parent Bernadette Olejko-Gadaleta, who helped organize the meeting turnout. Olejko-Gadaleta read a letter written by Lindsay James, a former John P. Stevens High School student and varsity athlete. "Athletes live and breathe night games," she read. "They are the pure essence of what a sport portrays. Why should a training athlete be punished? After all, shouldn't we want our athletes playing sports on Friday nights? It gives high school students a reason to say no to alcohol and drugs." Edison police Officer David Rodriguez called the board's decision "overkill." "I have had the privilege of playing down in Texas as a young kid and seeing what a Friday night game was like, with 15 to 20,000 people in the stands," Rodriguez said. "I think it is a bad idea what you are doing. The incidents that do happen, it is my job to rectify what happens. If it comes down to the fact that we need more of a police presence, I know a few other officers besides myself that would do it for free." Board member Joseph Romano made a motion to rescind the board's earlier decision and revert back to the previous night schedule. Romano and board members David Dickinson, Raymond Koperwhats, and Susan voted yes. Board members William Van Pelt, Deborah Anes, Barry Miller, Joseph Both and Shannon voted no. "This was a recommendation by the athletic directors by both high schools supported by principals, the superintendent, and made in consultation with the police department," said Shannon as he cast his vote. "I am not a big fan of voting in front of an intimidating crowd, but I thought it was the right decision then and I think it is the right decision now." Ninety percent of the problems are caused by students and those who come on a Friday night for other reasons, said Van Pelt, who serves as board president. "Over the years, there has been a concern, and that is what we have tried to address," he said. Van Pelt said that his vote did not mean he did not understand the needs of athletes. "You have in your weight room a lot of new equipment, and there may be more on the way," said Van Pelt, a former athletic director at Edison High School. "The money for that was obtained by me, so you can have that weight room. I did that out of my concern for you guys. As far as the things you have had to say about family, I am a lifelong resident of Edison, and the bottom line that comes out of this is that this BOE makes these decisions in the best interest of the town, and my vote is no." The board has seen an increase in incidents at outdoor Friday night events, he said after the meeting. "As a former athletic director and then in my time on the board ... you start to see things that have gone on over the years, ranging from disorderly persons arrests to a kid who shows up drunk," Van Pelt said. "It is not that our police cannot handle it, but we need to start to take steps because if we don't, something may happen. The decision may not be a popular one, but we do feel that it is the appropriate decision at this time." The decision was based on input and support from school athletic directors, security staff and police department liaisons, Van Pelt said. The board will vote on the issue again at the end of the school year to decide the school district's policy for the following school year, he said.