With the National Football League (NFL) playoffs in full swing, it's fitting that football dominated the Jan. 8 Levittown Board of Education meeting. The MacArthur High School football team dominated an awards ceremony. The squad was recognized for its first ever playoff win and a Nassau County Conference II championship. Generals' players and staff also received numerous individual honors, including Coach of the Year and Outstanding Overall Athlete.

Robert Fehrenbach, MacArthur's football coach, was named Nassau County Coach of the Year. "It's a tremendous honor," he said. "Next year, we hope to capture the Long Island title."

MacArthur senior defensive standout Gian Villante was honored with the Tom Thorp and Bill Liner awards, which are given for outstanding overall athlete and for being the county's best linebacker. "I'm excited. Very surprised," he said. "My hard work has paid off. Experience also helped. I've been there before."

Villante also said his teammates greatly contributed to his achievements and that the Generals had a great year overall. He expects the squad to be better next year. But Villante will be on to even bigger things when he attends Hofstra University. "I'm really looking forward to Hofstra," he said. "I hope to be a four-time All-American there. Then, who knows, maybe I can even go on to the NFL."

The MacArthur High School football squad was also named Outstanding Sports Team. After the awards were given out, the team was honored with a slide show of its season that was played to the music of Jesus Jones' Right Here, Right Now.

At Division High School, senior John DeGrace won the "Unsung Hero Award." The award is given to a person who is selfless and shows great dedication to his or her team.

Also, Eric Bradley was named Nassau County Cross Country Coach of the Year.

In other news, board President Paul Granger indicated it could be a tough budget year ahead after Gov. George Pataki gave his State of the State address. "Does that mean they will try to cut back on state aid?" asked board member Michael Moriarity.

"Yes, that's the indication I got," Granger responded.

The board tabled a motion to approve two backup generator replacements at Abbey Road School and the transportation center at a cost of $179,900. Moriarity wanted confirmation about the noise decibel levels of the machines. He also asked that the school district look into a federal program where the generators could be purchased at a cheaper price. "They won't be as nice as the ones we're looking to purchase," he said. "But the money saved could be used for other things. Maybe another classroom."

Also during the meeting, the board tabled a motion to approve an $11,550 contract with Long Island University to have two graduations there in June because there were discrepancies that have to be ironed out. Board members then unanimously retained Miller, Lilly & Pearce, LLP as its auditor.

School Superintendent Dr. Herman Sirois said after the meeting that the district, along with a number of other Nassau County districts, officially filed a lawsuit against the State Education Department for what they claim were manipulative tactics used for the 2001 physics Regents examination. Dr. Sirois previously said that the Levittown school district received little information about the test beforehand and that scoring might have been determined after the exams were taken. The school districts allege it was possibly a political move to benefit Department of Education Commissioner Richard Mills.

Also, Moriarity was in good spirits after he had suffered a heart attack a month earlier. Granger welcomed him back early in the meeting.