A new gate was built over spring break in Pascack Valley’s breezeway was finished on May 13. The breezeway is a roofed outdoor passage that connects the science wing to the library hallway. As a security measure, the new gate denies direct access into the building when doors are unlocked, which previously posed as a threat

During construction, the concrete in the breezeway was ripped up and replaced. Then, the new security gate was installed that goes up to the roof line. The gate has a panic bar on the inside that allows faculty and students to get out if there is an emergency. Students cannot get in through this gate, but faculty will be able to enter through the gate with their reader cards.

“We budgeted it for this year. We had to do the whole budget processing and putting up bids for contractors,” PV Principal Tom DeMaio said.

According to Robert Donahue, the Interim Director of Facilities and Capital Improvements, the project started before he was hired.

“When I first started, the project was a corridor,” Donahue said. “Basically, it had two walls and a ceiling. It was a closed corridor.”

Donahue suggested that the project be changed to a “decorative gate” because lawn mowers and maintenance equipment has to be able to get into the courtyard.

In an email sent out to students on May 16, PV Vice Principal John Puccio highlighted essential points he wanted to review with students.

The first point was that since the gate cannot be opened from the outside, the breezeway doors can stay unlocked during the whole school day. Puccio also said that students are not permitted to leave through the breezeway during lunchtime.

“We are happy that the project is finished,” Puccio said.