(Editor's Note: Please see "Never Ending Story," Mike Barry's column on ATS, in the editorial section).

While the Floral Park village board of trustees does not have responsibility for the operation and budgets of the elementary or high school education system, Mayor Ann Corbett reminds Floral Park residents and those in other communities in the Sewanhaka Central High School District (SCHSD) of an upcoming referendum concerning the Alva T. Stanforth (ATS) property. Voting will take place Jan. 21.

The polls will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Residents of the Floral Park-Bellerose Union Free School District can vote at John Lewis Childs or Floral Park-Bellerose elementary schools. Other elementary school districts in the SCHSD include Franklin Square, Elmont and New Hyde Park. They have different polling hours and locations.

Recently, the SCHSD Board of Education sent the Spectrum newsletter to district residents about the ATS building, which has been vacant since 1984. Floral Park residents will have the opportunity to vote on the first of two referendums Jan. 21. Voters who live in the Elmont Union Free Elementary School District will vote on a second referendum concerning the construction of a new state-of-the-art library on the property.

"Of course the outcome of the first referendum will be very important to Elmont as it will determine if a library will be built," Mayor Corbett noted. For information and details about the proposals and finances, check the Spectrum or contact the SCHSD office.

The referendum to sell property, if it passes, will allow the SCHSD to sell a portion of the property at the Hempstead Turnpike (in Elmont) location to the Elmont Elementary School District. The referendum will authorize the SCHSD to remove the asbestos from the old building and demolish it.

The Elmont Public Library board of trustees hosted public information meetings at the Elmont Library (across from the ATS building) Jan. 11 and Jan. 13.

Floral Park High School students and local sports groups use the playing fields to the rear of the existing ATS building. Mayor Corbett, however, noted that these fields are not part of the sale. "I understand the Sewanhaka Central High School District intends to keep this property and make significant improvements so its fields can continue to be used for athletic activities," she said.