For Manuel Argueta, high school has been a positive experience, but his new internship at Home Depot is helping him to learn career skills he says he can't get sitting behind a desk.

The 18-year-old student is one of 11 from the Career Development Special Education Program of Farmingdale High School (FHS) who last week started a ground-breaking job shadowing program at Home Depot, Farmingdale.

"Maybe when I graduate, I might want to be a plumbing person," Argueta said Thursday while replacing torn price tags in the plumbing isle of the mega, do-it-yourself store.

The internship program is the first one of its kind for special education students in the Farmingdale School District, according to Laura Rongo, FHS teacher and coordinator of the program, who also said it is a model for the state because in most other internships for special education students, assignments are more rigid and predetermined. In this case, students' roles are always changing due to the dynamics of working in a retail store, allowing students to try activities ranging from helping with inventory, to cleaning display products, to replacing worn price tags.

Although existing programs at FHS have allowed students such as Manuel to practice life skills through woodworking, repairing library books, etc., for most of the interns, this is their first experience in the world of work. According to Rongo, the program plays a key part in the school-to-work movement being promoted by the State Education Department and being fostered on the local level in the Farmingdale School District.

"It's a great opportunity for students who have not had any job experience to realize their strengths, and to realize that they are a valuable part of the community," Rongo said, noting that through it, the students are learning not only how to relate to their peers and customers, but also about appropriate work attire and a valuable work ethic needed for career success. "I'm able to bring what I teach them in the classroom to work, and what they learn at work back to the classroom for reinforcement."

She added, "The managers and associates at Home Depot have been so supportive of the students and their educational needs...To have these kids here, it does light up the place."

The students are transported to the store from Farmingdale High School, on school district buses, every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, at 12:45 p.m. After meeting and splitting into department task groups, they get to work at about 1 p.m. At 3 p.m., the district buses pick them up and bring them directly home. In addition to funding the designated busing, the district hired two additional part-time teachers to support the curriculum, according to Rongo.

Home Depot is as enthusiastic about the program as the district, according to Tony Leo, an outside sales representative for the company, who, through participation in Farmingdale School District's Citizen's Advisory Board, pushed for the internship program. "We're excited about it. To me it's something we're giving back to the community," he said, adding that the company looks for programs like this as a way to combat a lack of skilled workers on Long Island. "We're opening so many stores, we don't have people to hire." The company projects to open approximately 134 new stores worldwide in 1999, and to hire 250 to 300 employees per store. "Now, who are we going to put in those stores? Hopefully, these are going to be some of our new recruits," said Leo.

"We know that there is a young generation out there, that sometimes is lost in the shuffle, because of their background, their inabilities to learn from a book," he added, noting that many of these students have strengths others don't have. "They relate to people."

According to Leo, this is the first time that Home Depot has undertaken such a project. He added that it has met with no obstacles, and that he hopes the company's other retail stores follow suit.

Karen Hyman, Farmingdale Home Depot Store administrator noted that no other district has ever approached the store about such an idea, and attributed Farmingdale's initiation of the program to a large amount of support in the community. "It's a great opportunity for the students to see what it's like to work," she added.

Students interviewed at the program seemed comfortable and confident on the job.

"When I first started this I thought it would be hard," said Jerry Competiello, 17, as he and Argueta recorded information about torn price tags, noting that however, "I've learned a lot of things here - how to take stock, inventory and price." He added that relating to customers has also been a positive experience. 'It's not hard; it's saying 'hello.' They treat you nice. You have to treat them nice."

Sherry Ramrattan, 19 and Antoine Hawkins, 17 partnered Thursday on re-stocking shelves.

"It's a great experience, because when I want to go out and get a job, I can understand what you have to do...I like it - the uniform, the job," said Ramrattan.

"It's a good program," said Hawkins, "It shows you all different types of careers, like gardening, etc."

Pedro Cruz, 17 expressed pride in the internship. "I help customers all by myself," he said. "They say, 'Hey kid, come over here and help me get this down' - because I'm tall."

Nina Morgan and Alicia Toney, both 16, shared the task of cleaning dusty lights that are on display.

Morgan said she is getting practice at "working on her own," and "learning how to work around the house."

Toney expressed pleasure with Farmingdale's initiation of the program. "I never thought they'd be able to do anything like this," she said, adding that she is learning, "how to get along with others, how to be dependable."

Rongo echoed her students' fervor. "For a teacher, this is what it's all about," she said. "To be able to get the opportunity to bring kids into the real world is a dream."