North Shore University Hospital's lease of Willet Avenue School was extended until the year 2001 at a special meeting of the Board of Education.

This action effectively eliminates Willet from further consideration in addressing the current overcrowding at Lee and Woodland Schools. Willet had been discussed as being a possible site for a kindergarten center or as a K-5 elementary school.

The building had become available several years ago when the district was forced to close the school due to ballooning operation costs in the district. It has been leased to the North Shore University Hospital since its closing.

Superintendent Edward J. Finn had previously recommended in his report to the Board earlier in the meeting that the creation of a kindergarten center and the use of Willet Ave. School as a K-5 institution be removed from future consideration in addressing the current overcrowding at Lee and Woodland Schools.

"The disadvantages outweigh the advantages," said Finn in reference to the kindergarten center at Dutch or Willet. "The social and financial impact of transporting these students is too great."

Finn also explained that he did not recommend the use of the Willet facility as a K-5 school because of the structural make-up of the building. He pointed to the fact that the building does not have the required number of rooms to adequately support music, art and computer programs and its lack of a separate cafeteria and gymnasium.

Finn's recommendation not to pursue the K-Center as an option was met with widespread approval from the over 100 parents and residents attending the meeting. Parents of young children entering kindergarten had worried about extensive transportation routes for their young children, among other things, if a kindergarten center was established.

After the 4-2 vote, with one vote abstaining, to extend the lease, the school board heard public commentary and fielded questions concerning the efforts to alleviate crowding at Lee and Woodland Schools.

A major concern to the parents and residents on hand appeared to be the operation of the state funded special ed pre-k program at Dutch Lane. They argued that the program is a burden on the district. The funding for the program is several years behind schedule, and now that space in the district is limited certain parties are concerned that the opening of a new school (East Street) would be too costly to taxpayers. They are questioning whether the program should be tolerated, since only 34 of the 111 students in the North Shore program are from Hicksville.

"We do not have to be in the business of being a Nassau County provider," said a concerned parent.

Another parent stated, "the special ed. pre-k is important, but the average student is also important and should not be overlooked."

Dr. Finn had stated that it would cost the district $275,000 if the program were discontinued next year. He also said the district would be forced to lay off several teachers.

Numerous speakers also expressed their displeasure with the lack of information available to the public at this, the last public hearing on this issue. They argued that it was impossible for them to make intelligent and informed opinions on something they knew nothing about.

Applied Data Services, the company configuring the redistricting scenarios, had only presented an interim report to the board the previous week, and, due to a misunderstanding, the interim report was not available to the public in folio from the district.

"I cannot make statements about redistricting when I don't know how it will affect people," said a parent.

This concern was also expressed by several board members. Eventually, after an hour of debate, the board voted to schedule a public meeting on March 11 at 8 p.m. in the middle school auditorium. They warned, however, that a motion concerning certain options could be called to a vote at this meeting.

The board will arrive at a final decision on how to address this issue when the board reconvenes on March 16 at 8 p.m. in the middle school auditorium.