Several members of the volunteer fire departments of Mineola, Williston Park and Albertson came to the Mineola Board of Education meeting on Thursday to hear the board consider whether to adopt a 10 percent tax exemption to volunteers of fire departments or ambulance corps who own homes within the district.

New York State allows school boards to adopt a resolution which allows firefighters and ambulance workers to have an exemption on the school portion of their tax bills.

In order to qualify for the exemption, a volunteer must have five consecutive years of active or 20 years of active service, be a volunteer for a department within the school district and be a homeowner within the school district. If a volunteer qualifies, he or she would then receive 10 percent off the school portion of their tax bills.

Before a vote was taken by the board, members engaged in a discussion about the proposed resolution. The board discussed the financial impact of offering the exemption since the rest of the taxpayers in the district would have to make it up. It is estimated that by giving the firefighters and ambulance workers exemptions, the rest of the property owners would pay $11 more a year.

However, it was determined by the Mineola Board of Education that the volunteers are too valuable to the community. "The services these volunteers provide is invaluable," said school board member John McGrath.

Another board member, Steve Siwinski, said volunteers are the backbone of the community.

Appearing to urge the board to pass the tax exemption was Senator Michael Balboni's chief of staff Jim Sherry, who said Balboni is in complete support. Also appearing were some of the members of the Mineola Fire Department such as ex-Chief Walter Langer, who spoke about the numerous hours put in to be a member of the department.

The board passed the resolution unanimously.

Part of the mission of the Mineola School District is to contribute positively to a global society and exhibit strength of character. When it came to providing relief for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, the Mineola School community certainly accomplished this.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lorenzo Licopoli and teacher Denise Maynard presented a check for $14,813 to the American Red Cross. The money represented what was collected in the school's fundraising efforts for the victims of the hurricane.

The relief was an effort on the part of all the schools in the district. It culminated in a day at the high school that included a children's theater, Mardi Gras, and cabaret. Maynard spearheaded the effort. "It's something all of us who attended will never forget," said Mineola Board of Education President Donna Strein.

Thea Linscott of the Nassau Chapter of the American Red Cross thanked the district for their efforts as she accepted the check.