At its regularly scheduled meeting on Feb. 12, the Carle Place Board of Education reported on the district's technology initiatives and library services for residents. They also accepted gifts from two Carle Place Exxon service stations and honored students who have been inducted into the National Honor Society.

Speaking for the board, president Joan Manley announced that for this school year, the board has signed an agreement with Contemporary Computer Services, Inc., an equipment and service provider, for 40 wireless laptops, Internet connections and printers for the new Rushmore library media center as well as laptops for school administrators. Additionally, the entire school district will be networked with Cisco Systems' top-quality hardware. "This was a start," said Manley, who said that the board, working with the district's technology committee, will be coming up with additional recommendations for next year.

Manley also commented on Carle Place residents' ability to gain access to public library services. After discussing the options available to the community, she said that the board is recommending that residents seek special legislation to create a "special district public library." A detailed accounting of the situation appears in the district's March newsletter.

In other news, the board had its first reading of a policy on compulsory attendance ages. The policy, which would increase to age 17 the time a student must attend school, "makes a statement that education is very important and that we want students to stay and graduate," explained superintendent Michael H. Mostow.

The board also announced that petitions for those wanting to run for the open board seat are due in the district clerk's office by April 16; and resident Tina O'Bayley is the final member to be appointed to the budget advisory committee.

Additionally, the board approved a position paper, "The New York State Education Reform Model," authored by the superintendents of Nassau, Suffolk and Southern Westchester Counties, on their concerns and recommendations for the State Education Department's new assessments. "We support the new standards," explained Mostow, "but not the way they're being implemented."

During the meeting, the board also thanked the owners of two Carle Place Exxon Mobil service stations for their contributions, of $500 each to the school district. They are: Peter and Nick Themelis of the station at 241 Glen Cove Road and Michael Lynch, whose service station is at 640 Old Country Road.

The board also accepted a check, in the amount of $5,000, from Computer Associates (Islandia), to be used for the high school's hi-tech team of students who are building a robot for the nation-wide FIRST robotics contest.

The board also honored students inducted this fall into the high school chapter of the National Honor Society. They are: Sara Aravena, Amy Casinover, Shannon Winsch, Buddy Fichter, Erika Lopes, Thomas Kane, Marlene Almeida, Brian Albertson, Danny Andre, Meredith Cornelius, William Corrigan, Luigi D'Addio, Brenna Filazzola, Erin Fogarty, Dena Katsougrakis, William Kehoe, Kathryn Kennedy, Marc Krowkowski, Wai Yim Lam, Jenna Leghart, Stephanie Lesmeister, Stephanie Lopes, Caitlin McElroy, Jennifer McIntosh, Matthew McLaughlin, Meaghan O'Leary, Corey O'Sullivan, Susan Olsen, Katilynn Oswald, Nancy Posillico, Ximena Ramirez, Vanessa Rodriguez, Steven Schnabel, Evan Shanahan, Julianne Sims, Collin Twibell, Jennifer Voce, Kara Winsch and Matthew Zaino.