School District Votes to Combine Communication System with Town's

The township and the Wayne School District will combine their radio communication system to improve safety.

The board unanimously approved a 10-year shared service agreement with the township last Thursday.

The district will pay the township $19,000 to share the cost of the communication system for the 2013-14 school year. The cost, which is already included in the district’s budget, is pro-rated.

Sandy Galacio, director of the township’s Office of Emergency Management, told NorthJersey.com that the plan is expected to dramatically increase the capacity of the district’s current communication system.

Instead of being broadcast thorough a single transmission site, radio signals will be sent to four transmission sites in the township simultaneously, Galacio told the website, noting that the district will connect directly with the town’s emergency communication center at the municipal building.

The district will pay for part of the cost to maintain the system, which will be based on the number of radios it uses each year, Galacio said.

The agreement expires in July 2023. The district has until Oct. 16 to back out of the agreement.

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