The Elmont East End Civic Club held its first meeting of the new year on Tuesday and after a two hour discussion on the Alva T. Stanforth (ATS) Junior High School, it is apparent that the controversial issue will be a heated topic again in the near future.

The school, which has been abandoned since 1985, is still owned by the Sewanhaka Central High School District. However, the communities within the district - Elmont, Franklin Square, Floral Park and New Hyde Park - have not come to an agreement on what to do with the building, located on Hempstead Turnpike in Elmont since the school ceased use, has become what many feel is an eyesore and is known to some as the albatross of Elmont.

The Sewanhaka Central High School District Board of Education, which is comprised of eight members, two from each of the communities, will discuss options for ATS at its Jan. 28 meeting at Sewanhaka High School. On Tuesday, one of the Elmont representatives to the board, Aubrey Phillips, addressed the Elmont East Civic Association to share information and ideas. ATS is still a controversial issue that many people of Elmont are still passionate about. Whatever the district decides to do with the property must be brought before the voters of the four communities, although the district can demolish the school building with a vote from the board.

Phillips encouraged members of the Elmont East End Civic Club to let their voices be heard in demanding a use for the building that would benefit the Elmont community.

Although there have been several options discussed in the past including selling the land, the board member is in favor of keeping the 20 acres of land under the ownership of the high school district. "Let's keep the 20 acres together is the basis from which we can move," he said at the civic club meeting.

Phillips also encouraged civic members and Elmont residents to stay focused on the common goal of finding a use for the building that is beneficial to Elmont. Among the ideas discussed at the civic club meeting, was converting some of the land into a new location for the Elmont Public Library.

Elmont Library trustee David Osbourne, who was present at the civic club meeting, said the library board drafted a letter to the Sewanhaka Central High School District to open the lines of communication regarding the building. However, Osbourne said the library board received no official response from the district.

Bill Ost, an Elmont veteran, suggested that the land be used to house a veteran's hospital since many area veterans have to go to Northport for treatment.

Phillips said he could see both ideas as viable options as he emphasized the importance of holding on to the building. The advantage to holding ownership to the building and leasing the land is that the district would see some revenue from leasing the land while reserving the right to take back its use if the need were to arise. The sentiment among some Elmont residents is once the land is sold, it could never be used by the district and space is a commodity in Elmont. It is conceivable that Elmont could need school space in the future, considering Elmont Memorial is almost 2,000 students strong and Sewanhaka High School is almost 1,700 students strong. "No new land is growing here," Phillips said. "Elmont is growing at a rate that is greater than the other communities."

With any option, the Elmont board member would be sensitive to any cost to the community concerning the land while finding something that is palatable to the Elmont community.

However, Phillips and the other Elmont representative to the Sewanhaka Central High School Board of Education, Deanna Doreson, have their work cut out for them since the four communities that comprise the district have been divided on the ATS issue.

It will be difficult for the four communities to decide on a use. As far as a use benefiting Elmont such as using the land for the Elmont Public Library or educating Elmont children, when it comes time for a referendum, voters in Floral Park, New Hyde Park and Franklin Square may not vote to expend funds for something that will benefit another community. Phillips admits it may be difficult to convince the board members representing the other communities on the proposal that is beneficial to Elmont.

"It's going to be a tough road to hoe," Phillips said. "I think Elmont's best chance of getting something there that makes any sense to us is really to have a collective, unified voice with regard to what we want to see there."

During the Sewanhaka Central High School District Board of Education meeting ATS will be discussed on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 8 p.m. at Sewanhaka High School.

Phillips is urging all residents to attend and voice their opinion and ideas.