At the outset I wish to say a word of thanks to everyone in the New Hyde Park/Garden City Park school district for the tremendous support given to our schools.

Last year the community not only voted to pass our budget but also passed our bond issue, the first in 50 years. Because of that support this summer we began what will amount of a major renovation of our schools. As I write this, we are entering the final weeks of work replacing roofs at Manor Oaks and Hillside Grade. Over the next couple of years we will be adding new classrooms and support space at each of our schools addressing ADA accessibility and expanding to a full-day kindergarten in the year 2004.

There is no question we will be going through a time of significant change. No doubt there will be some problems along the way. However, once realized the bond's implementation will surely improve the overall educational environment for our elementary school children.

The Board of Education and administrators and many other community members worked very hard to plan a bond that would ensure that our school district will continue to meet our students' educational needs in the years ahead. In the final analysis however the success of this bond is owed to the entire community. The community offered valuable input along the way and ultimately its support for this milestone project. On behalf of the board, administration, staff and children thank you for that input and support.

As we begin the new year, I would also like to welcome a number of new people to our district staff. I am very pleased to announce that James Svendsen is the new principal of the Garden City Park School and that Karen Bayerbach is the new Director of Curriculum and Technology. I am delighted that both of these capable individuals are joining our leadership team. We've also hired a number of new teachers and other staff members too numerous to mention here.

In addition, we've continued to move right along implementing our Technology Plan. Thirteen new PC computers have arrived for each computer lab. In turn, we have been able to take the existing Macs in the labs and upgrade the technology in our kindergarten classrooms.

All in all it should prove to be an exciting school year.