The first school board meeting of the year 2002 was held at the Garden City Park School on Monday. At that time the New Hyde Park/Garden City Park School Board presented its list of budget meeting dates and corrected the date that appeared in the school calendar for the school board budget vote and election for 2002. The date of the budget vote and the school board election is May 21, 2002 and is to be held from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Manor Oaks School, Hillside Avenue, New Hyde Park.

The list of the budget meetings are as follows:

* Feb. 4- Public Budget Hearing for Community Input-New Hyde Park Road School-7:30 to 9 p.m.

* March 9-Budget Hearing Presentation-Manor Oaks School- 9 a.m.to noon..

* March 25-Budget Hearing Presentation-Manor Oaks School-7:30 to 9 p.m.

* May 21-Budget Vote/Election-Manor Oaks School-10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

At the outset of the meeting Principal James Svendsen welcomed the board and all the parents of the fourth grade classes who entertained with two songs Put a Little Music in Your Life and The Erie Canal directed by choral teacher Marquart.

Principal Svendsen explained that the school has been involved in "child centered" activities for the holidays such as making a flag of handprint stripes Christmas wreaths for community members and oaktag Christmas trees distributed to both the Northport and St. Albans veterans hospitals. He said that soon a group of children would be visiting Denton Green senior facility to entertain the residents. He also announced that in the new year the students would become heavily involved in the "A Community of Readers" program. Each student has been given a flag of the United States without stars and each book they read will be a star added to his/her flag until they reach 50 stars, or more. Plus, there is an adult book club being formed that will meet regularly to discuss various bestsellers of their choice.

Principal Svendsen then turned the meeting over to School Board President James Kane who, in what has become his customarily rapid pace, went through the agenda very quickly including a report from the Fire Marshal Timothy Green. Fire Marshal Green announced that the district schools were all conforming to the fire codes. He also wished the district well in its forthcoming construction projects and thanked the entire community on behalf of both the firefighters and the police for the support it has given to both services during the Sept. 11 disaster. Green added, "It's a pleasure to work with you folks."

President Kane then turned the meeting back to Superintendent Joseph Rudaitis who gave a brief update of the bond. He announced that a report was prepared and sent to Albany, with the help of architect John Grillo, with an explanation of the variances asked for by the district to proceed with its construction.

Superintendent Rudaitis also announced that the Manor Oaks playground and the new swings at the Road School were going out to bid next week. The project is a result of a grant from New York State Senator Michael Balboni.

It was also announced that as a result of a health survey participated in by Mr. Vaccaro's fifth grade class they won a nation-wide lotto contest of $1,000 that will be directed to the New Hyde Park Road School.

Mini-grant G.I. F.T .awards of $1,000 provided by the PTA were given to two groups of teachers. The first group from the Hillside Grade School of Brenda Bletsch, Linda Marcic and Linda Romano and the second group from Garden City Park School of Linda Pumillo and Mindy Simon.

The board then approved the field trip to Riverhead for the sixth grade classes at both Hillside Grade School and Manor Oaks School.

It was confirmed by Superintendent Rudaitis that any child who could not afford the $63.25 would go on the trip anyway with donations made possible by the PTA.

The board then voted on a mileage reimbursement of 36 1/2 cents, per mile effective January 1, 2002 and the appointment of an auditor.

Just before the very quick meeting ended Superintendent Rudaitis, pointed out with "tongue-in-cheek," that by next year when the board meets again at the Garden City Park School auditorium he hopes that the clock on the wall will be repaired because it has been showing a time of 3 o'clock for a year, or more. He was assured by Principal Svendsen that if at all possible, it would be taken care of.

The next New Hyde Park/Garden City Park School Board regular meeting will be held on Feb. 11 at 8 p.m. at the Hillside Grade School, 150 West Maple Drive, New Hyde Park.