In preparing for its 100th anniversary celebration, the Island Trees School District has been compiling loads of information regarding the history of the community, the district and its schools. A special anniversary newsletter was sent home to all residents living within the district noting some historic events and even more will be on display at a district-wide party to be held later this month.

Students and teachers throughout Island Trees have been compiling information regarding the history of their respective schools and the individuals after whom they are named. Displays of photographs and historic information will be on display at the district-wide party, scheduled for Friday, Oct. 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Island Trees Middle School. On Saturday, Oct. 26, the district will host a parade in conjunction with Homecoming. The parade is set to start at the middle school and is scheduled to leave at noon (all parade participants are asked to arrive at the back parking lot of the middle school by 11:15 a.m.). The parade will make its way through the community and end at the high school, to help celebrate Island Trees Homecoming and the homecoming football game is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.

Former and current employees, alumni, retirees and special guests have been invited to the anniversary celebration and all residents are welcome to attend and share in the festivities.

Some Facts About the Island Trees School District

* The school district was formed on Sept. 2, 1902.

* The one-room schoolhouse, the first school in the district, was located near the site of the Toys R Us Store on Hempstead Turnpike. It was opened in January of 1904.

* In 1905, the tax rate was set at 20 cents per hundred.

* The first teacher hired for the school, John Martin, received an annual salary of $400.

* The first bond issue was approved in 1908 to help pay school expenses. The amount of the bond was $750.

* Money from the first bond issue was used to pay for the building of a well for school use.

* In 1912, J. Fred Sparke was voted the collector of taxes and in 1915 he was made treasurer of the district.

* The total cost of running the district in 1913 was $754.18.

* In 1935, the trustees agreed to pay for five substitute teacher days for the teacher at the one-room schoolhouse. After five days, the teacher would have to pay the substitute themselves.

* In 1940 the trustees voted to purchase the school district's first stationery with the school address and officers' names on it.

* The big issue for the district in 1941 was the school board's opposition to the construction of an airport or "any other flying field" across from the schoolhouse.

* In 1949 a bond issue was passed to build Farmedge School. The bond was set at $598,500.

* Farmedge was opened in September 1950 and that same year another bond of $199,500 was necessary to expand it.

* Angelina Warneke was elected president of the Island Trees Teachers' Association upon its formation in 1950.

* From 1949 to 1953, Lewis Blodgett was appointed Island Trees' first district principal.

* In July of 1951, a special bond issue was passed to build the Memorial School (now the middle school).

* Two years later, in 1953, another bond for $1,395,000 was needed to build the Stokes School and the Island Trees Memorial School was partially opened.

Please see next week's issue for more historic facts about the Island Trees School District.