An optomistic and enthusiastic Judy Jacobs, Nassau County Legislator, emerged from a Government Services Committee meeting on September 17 firmly believing that she and a group of vocal supporters had made progress in establishing an Educational Resouce Center which may someday supplement the lesson plans of teachers countywide.

Before the committee chaired by Legislator John Canning of the 18th L.D., Jacobs, a former teacher herself, along with educators and volunteers, backed legislation to form this center, which would serve as a bureau linking up guest speakers with students who are studying their fields of expertise.

The program, testified Jacobs, would create a "link between school work and the real working world."

"I've been doing my homework on this for two-and-a-half years and even the Republicans said that this was a very prepared hearing," said Jacobs.

Part of that homework was locating "speakers from every walk of life," to demonstrate the invaluable living resources that the center would provide. Witnesses who approached the committee included those who have established themselves in education, business and history.

Karl Heiman, WWII veteran whose father was a Holocaust survivor, reminded the committee members that history can be illustrated far more powerfully from the spoken words of one who has experienced it than from the words in a textbook. "I usually had a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time throughout history," Heiman said.

Another veteran testifying was Jack Hayne, who served in the Korean War. Hayne said it is currently difficult and time-consuimg to inform schools that he and fellow Korean War vets are available for speaking engagements.

Also appearing and endorsing the center were Dr. Bonnie Marmor, of the Department of Career Education, Nassau BOCES; Donna Sabella, district director of the Nassau District PTA; Sue Graham, first assistant director of the Nassau District PTA; Evy Rothman, member of the Plainview-Old Bethpage School Board; Mark Berberian, a field representative of the New York National Education Association; and Joan Brennan of One-to-One Long Island Mentoring Partnership.

"Through the Educational Resource Center, educators will have the opportunity to tap into the breadth of professional talent of local residents," read a quote Jacobs provided from Marmor of BOCES. "Students will have the oportunity to interact with role models who will help to develop their workplace awareness, and community members will have the opportunity to render a meaningful and valuable service to their community."

There was some concern expressed at the hearing that volunteers would somehow usurp the authority or importance of the teacher's role. Jacobs, in a later interview, responded, "I am the last person in the world to do something to negatively affect teachers."

Jacobs said there is "no chance of them [volunteers] taking over the course." They may only speak to a class once per month at maximum, and a teacher must be present at all times.

Inspector Lawrence Mulvey from the Nassau County Police Department also commented on the proposed bill's language concerning background checks that would be established for any volunteers.

Funding for the center would be subject to approval by the Legislature and the center's staff, limited to three individuals, unless a larger staff is approved. The center, which would likely be run in Mineola, is authorized to accept equipment donations to offset the cost of salaries and supplies from the private sector. The proposal also includes a sunset provision which terminates the center on September 1, 2000, unless specifically reauthorized by an act of the Legislature.

"The bi-partisan effort shown by my colleagues in looking into this legislation is a great step in turning the Educational Resource Center into a reality," Jacobs said. "I thank Presiding Officer Bruce Blakeman and Legislator Canning, who have both been very supportive of exploring this idea from the beginning."

If the legislation is approved by the Government Services Committee, it would then move on to the Finance Committee, and then the overall Legislature. Nevertheless, Jacobs called this first hearing a "pretty big first step."

"I'd been asking for a hearing on this for a long time," she said.

This article was supplemented with a press release.