Those passing by the site of the new Willis Avenue School may have noticed that the foundation is being poured and the steel is going up as the project moves along.

At last week's board of education meeting, representatives of Holt Construction, the district's project manager that is overseeing the project and the construction by general contractor NRI, were present to answer any questions concerning the project. The Holt team still believes the project is on target and the school can open in September 2003.

The project has reached a critical juncture as construction workers are currently working to get the first floor and basement watertight. The second critical juncture is scheduled to occur in mid-January as workers will be getting the second floor watertight. Once these goals are accomplished, there will be a more controllable environment in which to work.

According to Holt Construction, there have been no issues to arise that would threaten the length of the project as it appears the project is on schedule.

Representatives from DCLW Architects unveiled preliminary design sketches for a renovated library and media center at Mineola High School. The new plans call for relocating the television studio, reconfiguring some of the main offices, relocating the teacher's lounge and student service center as well as moving the guidance office and the copy room to create a sort of media center HUB.

The belief is that a modern high school library/media center should be designed in a way that is comparable to a college library/media center so the transition from high school to college would be easier. Also, the library/media center should be more inviting than the one that currently exists at the high school so the preliminary plans, which include two multipurpose rooms for the library, show an entrance that is directly opposite the auditorium.

The proposed high school library would also be larger than the current one and is said to be able to accommodate 10 percent of the high school population at once.

The project would go out to bid this spring. However, it is still too early to determine the cost of such a project.

* It was commented that the Mineola High School Marching Band did a great job at the monument rededication ceremony in Memorial Park on Veterans Day.

* The district has yet to hire a television production teacher to replace John Collins, who retired. Dr. Licopoli said the district is having a difficult time replacing Mr. Collins, who still does work for the district in a publicity capacity.