At the last Herricks School Board meeting good news announcements took front and center.

First was the announcement, in the May 17 issue of USA Today, of its 2007 All-USA High School Academic Team. On the list, of the top 100 students in the nation, Herricks High School students Vidya Viswanathan Vijay Jain, Matthew Seigerman and Nandini Venkateswaran were named and Viswanathan was included in the top 20 students. The All-USA High School Academic Team honors high school students who not only excel in scholarship but also extend their intellectual abilities beyond the classroom to benefit society. Criteria include grades, academic rigor, leadership, activities and most important, the student's essay describing his or her most outstanding intellectual endeavor done while in high school.

Herricks Superintendent Dr. Jack Bierwirth said that last year four Herricks students were also recognized in the top 100 students in the class of 2006. At that time it was established, by USA Today, that it was the first time four students from one district were named. Dr. Bierwirth added, "Now, this is the second time that such an honor has been bestowed on the Herricks district and we are all very proud."

The next announcement came from Music Chairman John McNeur. He said that the Herricks Music Boosters Club has been trying to raise enough money to buy a grand piano. The Boosters established the fact that $40,000 would be needed to purchase such a piano. Two years ago, the Music Boosters were given a $10,000 anonymous donation and the Music Boosters, at the last meeting, added to that a check for $7,000. Further, the North Hempstead Chinese American Association attended the meeting and donated $15,000 to the music department; $7,000 of which to go towards the piano. McNeur then said that the original $10,000 donor sent an additional check for another $10,000 to ensure the purchase of the piano. He read the letter sent, with the check, by the anonymous donor expressing gratitude for such a wonderful music program in the district.

As the meeting progressed another item on the agenda was yet another donation of $10,000 from another anonymous donor. These monies, it was decided, will be used to establish a Speaker's Bureau to pay for speakers of note to come to talk to the students in the district.

All and all the school board and administrators, needless to say, were very happy with all the donations that were given to the district.

The board approved a resolution, as a result of the school breakfast survey, not to offer a school breakfast program during the 2007-'08 school year. It was pointed out that, by law, a school district must offer a breakfast program unless 80 percent of the families who respond to the survey decline to participate. However, it was noted, by Dr. Bierwirth, that any child who should happen to come to school hungry will be taken care of by the kitchen staff.

The board approved the awarding of a bid for Driver Education courses to Bell Auto School. A self-sustaining cost of $295 per student will be charged.

The board approved a plan for the cooperative bid for materials and supplies for bus, van and auto parts. Other districts included are Mineola, Garden City, Great Neck, North Shore, Port Washington and Roslyn.

The board approved an agreement with School Aid Specialist of Guilderland, New York for them to review all forms and applications related to New York State Aid to ensure that Herricks is receiving the maximum state aid to which it is entitled, at a fee of 15 percent of any recovered state aid.

A late transportation request was denied but an approval of an agreement with World Yacht, Inc. for the eighth grade school boat trip on June 22 was approved. The cost is approximately, $17, 320 and will be paid for by the students attending.

The board meeting closed and it was announced that the next board meeting will be held on June 7 at Center Street School at 7:15 p.m. and it will be a regular meeting.

The Herricks School Board Annual Reoganizational Meeting will be held on July 2 at the Center Street School at 7:15 p.m.