At the last New Hyde Park/Garden City Park School Board meeting the board voted on the proposed budget of $28, 478, 955. In commenting on the budget, school trustee Martin Cernese said he felt the entire budget "focused on the education of the children." School Board President Louis Zacarese said he wanted to echo Cernese's comments and he praised both Dr. Cohn and Mr. Frank for all the hard work they put into the budget. Dr. Cohn added, "Mr. Frank joined the district in January and he hasn't slept since and I really appreciate all the work he put into the budget."

The Illustrated spoke to Assistant Superintendent for Business Michael Frank who said that the administration was not, as yet, figuring into the budget the proposed tax refund proposed by the legislature until New York State Governor George Pataki approved it. The amount projected for New Hyde Park/Garden City Park is $3, 363, 880. However, Frank said that he and Superintendent Dr. Regina Cohn felt that until the amount has been verified it would not be wise to figure it into the budget. If and when it is approved it will be returned to the taxpayers.

In other matters at the board meeting it was established that both Martin Cernese and David DelSanto have picked up petitions for the board of education trustee seats. Cernese was appointed to the board to fill the seat vacated by the resignation of School Board Trustee Lawrence Montreuil. The election will be held on May 16 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Manor Oaks School, 1950 Hillside Avenue, New Hyde Park.

The board appointed Louis Hirshfield as interim psychologist/CSE chairperson to take over for Dr. Thomas Raab when he retires at the end of the school year.

The board also gave certificates to students who were Newsday reporters along with their teachers. The children were in Shari Glickman's sixth grade class at Manor Oaks School; Patricia Maguire's ICS class at Manor Oaks School and Mrs. Glickman's sixth-grade class at Manor Oaks School. Plus they gave teacher recognition to CiviConnections Grant Awards to the following Manor Oaks teachers Janie Bonura, Grade four; Ralph Ratto, Grade five and Shari Glickman, Grade six. The grant they received was working in conjunction with the Western Nassau Water Authority.

Odyssey teacher Sheila Bet then presented a slide show highlighting the various projects she has done with the students in the program especially when she took the students to the New Hyde Park Village Hall Boardroom to hold a mock Senate Debate. She said that it gave the students a feeling of "authenticity" to be at village hall.

The board approved the following donations: a check from Washington Mutual-WaMoola for Schools; check from Target-Take Charge of Education Program; donation of five computers from State Bank of Long Island; a donation of hockey tables; and the donation of spruce trees.

The board also approved the paperwork being prepared for a hot lunch program to be served in the district.

The next item was to approve the Summer Recreation Program, which is a self-sustaining program. Dr. Cohn said that no district funds would be used for the program.

Wellness Policy No. 1425 was approved. The board voted to waive the second reading of this policy. Anyone wishing to read the policy may pick up a copy in the administration office located at the Manor Oaks School, 1950 Hillside Avenue, New Hyde Park.