At the outset of the regular New Hyde Park/Garden City Park School Board meeting, Martin Cernese, president of the Sewanhaka Central School Board reported on the status of the sale of Alva T. Stanforth, a junior high school facility that has not been used since 1986, owned by Sewanhaka Central School District and located on Hempstead Turnpike in Elmont.

Cernese said, "Regarding Alva T. Stanforth, a topic that has been ongoing in the district for the past 13 years, the recent negotiations between the Sewanhaka Central High School District and the Elmont Elementary School District were recently terminated. A statement indicated that both districts withdrew from the process with regret. The withdrawal was due to the inability to renegotiate certain portions of the contract."

Cernese continued, "In essence, the Central High School District stated that the property will be looked at for the use and development by the high school district and the communities that apprise the district. This is an ongoing 13-year saga that will now continue to its next phase, whatever that will be."

Cernese also announced that anyone that has a child in the 11th grade who will be taking the new Regents Exam, the Central High School District will provide those students the option of taking the old three-hour Regents in January. The new Regents requirement for the English Regents in June will be to take a six-hour test. Students who take the test in January may also take it in June and use the higher of the two grades. He went on to say that a large amount of time is being spent working on the new standards and graduation requirements. He said, "It is an ongoing struggle working with the state, but we are diligently working on new curriculum to make our students ready for the new tests."

Dr. Thomas Raab, the chairperson of Special Education then outlined its plan for the new year regarding the philosophy and evaluation of the New Hyde Park students based on the new regulations and guidelines handed down by the state.

Dr. Raab said the major change is the committee for Special Education has been expanded to include both the general classroom teacher of the student as well as the special education teacher. In addition, the parent of the child is now a voting member of the committee, which changes the structure of the committee.

Dr. Raab also announced that of the 163 students in the Special Education Program in the district approximately 100 are in regular classrooms and receiving either resource room or related services; 50 are in Special Education Classes where they spend the majority of the day in special classes with no more than 12 students, a teacher and an aide and where they receive the basic reading, math and writing instruction. Approximately 35 percent of their time is spent with regular students and the remainder of their time following the special education program.

Approximately 12 students attend a variety of schools with specialized programs meeting their needs. Dr. Raab concluded his report stating that the New Hyde Park District is way ahead of the county in the handling of its Special Eduction students. He added that it was very important that parents in the program become acquainted with their rights.

After his report the board, led by President Suzanne Wenz, voted to accept the plan.

Superintendent Joseph Rudaitis announced that in the matter of re-registration in the district, as requested by the board of education, the PTAs of Manor Oaks, Garden City Park and Roads School all support the plan. Hillside Grade PTA members support the plan, but had reservations about the cost.

Rudaitis continued, "Therefore, I'm happy to report that in the process of going forth with the plan of obtaining volunteers so far we have 10 community volunteers and we are hopeful that we will have more by the time we start the project sometime in the spring."

Superintendent Rudaitis announced that the same response was not forthcoming regarding the Budget Advisory Committee. He therefore suggested that the board not move forward with a Budget Advisory Committee for this year, but rather to advertise, during the upcoming budget process, the board's willingness to work with such a committee. G.I.F. T. Awards were awarded to the following: Wesley Hogan/Laurie Ferrera, of the Road School; Georgette Vosseler, Hillside Grade School; Lora Balsamo/Elizabeth McHale/Teresa Rienzie, Hillside Grade;' Barbara Nelson, Hillside Grade; Rosemarie Santangelo, Road School; Kathy Callaghan, Road School; Catherine DeGloria, Hillside Grade; Katie Campbell, Road School; Fifth Grade Road School, Joanne LaRocca, New Hyde Park/Garden City Park; Joanne Seitelman, Hillside Grade School; Carol Burns, Diane Bolomarcich and Linda Gebbia, Hillside Grade School; Angela Maletta, Road School. The board approved the revised Field Trip Policy, copies of which are available at the administration office. The following gifts were accepted: Musical equipment from Bruce Dedrick, EAB office equipment, orchestrated by Dan LaPlaca and an Apple Image Writer II Printer from the Joseph Zammit family. Gail Keyes announced that the there is much discussion regarding the New York State School Boards Association stand against Charter Schools. She stated that they are taking this stand because Charter Schools will take money away from the public schools and the board supported that stand.

Annette Giarratani asked the board the disposition of the grant application for the feasability of building a new library. Superintendent Rudaitis said that the application was submitted and the library board, the school board and the village board are all anxiously awaiting the outcome of the request for a grant to study the feasibility of building such a library.

The next New Hyde Park/Garden City Park School Board meeting will be held on Jan. 14 at 8 p.m. at Garden City Park School, at Central Avenue and Third Street, New Hyde Park.