Rededication day held for Franklin School playground

FRANKLIN-On Rededication Day, May 7, the new Franklin Borough School playground was fizzy with joyous children scaling the red ladders, chuting down the green triple sliding boards, and transforming the platforms into make-believe ship's decks. Although the meteorologists had predicted rain, a dazzling May sun was shining. In late 2004, the school melded two smaller playgrounds built in the mid 1980s into a larger one to create the new, state-of-the-art play space. Each of the two older playgrounds had been individually dedicated, one to former Franklin School student, teacher and principal, H. Jay Burd, and the other to seventh-grade student Jason Herman. Herman died in 1985 when a drunk driver struck him as he was riding his bicycle on Route 23. The new, single playground combines the two dedications. New, stringent state and federal playground-safety standards sparked the drive to replace outmoded equipment. Helped by state grants and money the Home & School Association raised, the school came up with the $55,085 needed for the project. Surveying the new playground with sparkling eyes and wearing a grandfatherly smile, Burd remarked that the school was built the year he was born, 1926. He grew up within the shadow of the school, and attended classes there from first grade until he graduated from high school. Following World War II, Burd returned to Franklin School in 1947 to teach physical education. After becoming principal in 1970, he served the school in that capacity until his retirement in 1987. "I looked forward to coming to work every single day of my time at Franklin School," Burd declared. Teachers Bonnie Gaynor and Judy Pierce attested to Burd's benign reign as principal. "He hired me in 1972," said Gaynor. "Working with him was a pleasure because he always was supportive of the teachers and he genuinely cared about the children." Burd remembered Herman as a bright, interesting child, who was fond of sports and good at them. Cathy Keslo, Herman's mother, remarked that her son would have loved the playground, "He was such a happy child. He is with me every day of my life," she said. Herman's grandparents, Stanley and Rita Polinski of Scranton, Penn. also were present for the rededication. "Jason died two days after my birthday," said Stanley, "he was such a lovable child, and he always wanted to play baseball with me. As soon as he would arrive in the house, he would pick up his baseball glove and call me outside to play." Ethel Alexander, Herman's former fifth grade teacher, remembered Jason as vivacious and popular, "I would have liked to have had twenty of Jason in my class," she said. Alexander now serves as a Franklin School Board member. Principal Pat Pfeil opened the rededication ceremony with a brief history of the playground, and Mark Zschack, School Board President declared the moment a great day for Franklin. Students Steven Tizzano (grade 7), Michael Mena (grade 8) and Ashley Napovier (grade 8) each spoke a part of the words of rededication. They then presented Burd and Keslo with pots of pale mauve azaleas to plant in their gardens in remembrance of the occasion. Addressing the guests, Burd spoke movingly of his pride in and long affection for the school, and of his deep respect for the teachers' dedication. He also voiced his warm memories of Herman, and deplored the tragic accident that had stolen his young life. For a moment, the crowd was very still. The children then unveiled the commemorative sign, which reads on the left, "In our hearts forever" Jason Herman 1973-1985, and on the right, "In honor of H. Jay Burd, former principal."