A major construction project that will add space to each of the six schools in the Elmont Union School District is nearly complete as the extensions built to four of the schools should be ready to be occupied when school opens next month. The additions built onto the other two schools should be ready to be occupied by the end of September, according to district officials.

In 1999, the Elmont Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Maria Palandra recognized that the Elmont schools were in desperate need of space to accommodate the growing enrollment. The district found that the best way to create space was to build extensions to each of its six schools - Covert Avenue, Clara H. Carlson, Gotham Avenue, Dutch Broadway, Stewart Manor and Alden Terrace.

A bond referendum was put before the residents of the district and passed by an overwhelming majority. The time has now come when just a concept and a plan is an actual concrete structure to be enjoyed by the students and utilized by the district to enhance education.

"It's been an extraordinary summer and year. There's so much work going on and things are going very well," said Bob Geras, the district's director of facilities.

While Covert Avenue, Gotham Avenue, Dutch Broadway and Stewart Manor are expected to be ready by the beginning of the school year, Clara H. Carlson and Alden Terrace are lagging slightly behind. "Those projects were a little more complex and took a little more time," Geras said.

Those projects will not be completed by the time school starts. However, Geras doesn't expect there will be any interference since construction was ongoing at the end of the last school year.

Geras said the project is well within the budget, which is always a concern to the residents, and the next couple of weeks will focus on interior finishes. Furniture will then be moved in to the new structures. "It's a very exciting time," Geras said. "A lot of people making a lot of sacrifices made it a reality."

For Dr. Palandra, it has been a long process. It was over two years ago that the superintendent traveled to each of the schools, making presentations concerning the bond referendum. She is now seeing the efforts of those involved come to fruition. "This has been an extraordinary project that has progressed very well," she said. "We are practically on schedule and within budget. The work has been done very well. We have the classrooms we need. All of the money went into the construction of the classrooms. They are spacious, attractive and solid."

Dr. Palandra was amazed that the project is nearly complete only 10 months after the district held groundbreaking ceremonies in October after receiving approval for the project from the state.

She credited Frank Marino, a consultant the district hired to oversee the project, for making sure it was done on schedule and within budget.

Dr. Palandra expressed her satisfaction that the district is finally getting the space it needs to accommodate its children and the staff. "They have been waiting for several years. They're looking forward to it. I think it will be easy to adjust because it will give more instructional space for students," she said.

Space had become such a hot commodity in the Elmont Schools that the basements of the schools were used to house classrooms. That will no longer be the case. With the extensions built, all classes that were set up in the basement will be brought above ground level. The basements will only be used for special classes, which children attend for only 45 minutes. The extension at the Gotham Avenue School will also allow the district to lower class size there.

Here is what each school in the district has gotten as a result of the construction of the extensions:

* Alden Terrace - Cafeteria, kitchen, four classrooms.

* Clara Carlson - Eight classrooms

* Covert Avenue - Five classrooms and a library (three new classrooms and two that were derived from converting the old library)

* Dutch Broadway - Eight new classrooms, more room for the cafeteria and new bathrooms

* Gotham Avenue - 12 rooms (six each on the first and second floors)

* Stewart Manor - Three rooms