Following a Nov. 6 special meeting of the Great Neck Public Schools board of education and a brief discussion at the Nov. 18 regularly scheduled board of education public action meeting, the board authorized school district administration to work toward an ''appropriate contract'' regarding water remediation. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMC) requested permission to place an extraction well and underground pipelines on school district property for the purpose of removing and cleansing contaminated water emanating from Lockheed Martin facilities.

Board of Education President Judi Bosworth noted that the Nov. 6 meeting with NYSDEC representatives was ''very informative'' and had generated some important discussions. Ms. Bosworth emphasized that the school district's main goal is to see that remediation takes place, but that they want to make sure that they have protected students and staff. She also spoke of ensuring that the contract allow for flexibility to make it all feasible and to be certain that it will work. ''We want to ensure that we protect our water supply for generations to come,'' she added.

The board then formally recommended an authorization for the ''... administration to cause an appropriate contract to be prepared, which would consider, among other provisions, the following terms and conditions for submission to the board for its public discussion and ratification:

1. The intent of the board of education in authorizing the preparation of a contract is to grant DEC and LMC permission and access to the school district site, for the purpose of installing the specified equipment and materials to implement the decontamination project. There is no intent to endorse the methods or efficiency of the processes involved, although the board of education hopes the project will be successful.

2. Overall monitoring and supervision will be conducted pursuant to DEC regulations and guidelines and all applicable federal and state regulations.

3. LMC will pay all costs of construction, monitoring and supervision associated with the decontamination project.

4. The air quality will be continuously monitored by DEC and LMC at point of emission to ensure zero contaminants are released into the atmosphere as a result of the decontamination project. If emissions are over zero, the operation will be shut down until appropriate action is taken to bring emissions back to zero.

5. The contract work, location of trenches, extracting wells, observation wells, and testing wells must receive specific approval by the board of education.

6. The schedule for this work will be provided in advance to the board of education. The work will be scheduled so as to have no impact on the school district's use of its property. The work on the school district site will be scheduled so that it can be completed by the end of March 2003.

7. A pipe monitoring system approved by DEC shall be included in this project.

8. All piping shall be PVC double wall piping.

9. Routes used by construction trucks as well as maintenance trucks shall be under the jurisdiction of both the school district and the Village of Lake Success. Truck access to the district site will be documented and require prior approval from the district. All such vehicles will be properly insured, and insurance certificates naming the Great Neck Schools as additional insured will be required.

10. Drainage of access roads will be the responsibility of LMC.

11. Reports of all testing data and incidents affecting the operation of this project will be forwarded to the district on a regular, timely basis.

12. Any prior easement granted by the school district to the Manhasset Lakeville Water Authority will not be used as a part of this project.

13. Any easement contemplated for future use will be subject to approval by the board of education.

14. LMC will immediately defend, indemnify and reimburse the district for any damages incurred by the district, including for any claims of damage to or by third parties.

15. A surety bond to fully protect the interest of the school district for the life of the project shall be provided.

16. All expenses incurred by the school district in connection with this project will be reimbursed by LMC to the school district.

17. The board of education will be held safe harmless for any errors or omissions pursuant to the execution of this contract.

18. The school district will be provided with all studies and reports relating to the operating life of the project and the expected date for completion of the remediation. LMC will undertake the decommissioning of the project and equipment forthwith upon completion of the remediation or the end of its operating life. Decommissioning must meet all DEC, state, and federal regulations, and is subject to approval by the board of education before the project will be deemed to be decommissioned.