''We are five members, each bringing something special (to the board of education),'' said newly-elected board President Judi Bosworth, adding, ''Each one of us has a tremendous commitment to this school district.''

As she begins her first term as president of the Great Neck Public Schools board of education, Ms. Bosworth is quick to stress the desire of the entire board to work with the community ''to see that the children get the best possible education.''

''We are sensitive to the needs of the children, sensitive to the needs of the community,'' she said, ''Input from the community is very valuable to us.'' She went on to explain that this is ''the era of school-based management,'' and the board of education ''takes seriously'' recommendations from the Shared Decision Making Committees. ''These committees give us a clearer understanding of what is important to the school community, and that is important to us,'' said Ms. Bosworth.

As for plans for the coming school year, Ms. Bosworth pointed out, ''We have come from a very active year with Mona (Mona Fuchs, outgoing board president), and this year will be devoted to seeing that all that work---the bond issue, the north athletic fields---comes to fruition.''

Concerning the bond issue, the district has just issued $18 million worth of bonds. They are now waiting for State Education Department approval of the plans. ''Everything is in place,'' reports Ms. Bosworth, ''We have a construction manager and he is eager to include the schools' staffs and parents in plans for the ongoing construction; he wants to see things go as smoothly as possible, with the least interruption in the schools.''

Ms. Bosworth is also excited about the plans to network the entire district. ''The possibilities are endless once we are networked,'' she said.

In the elementary schools, the computer program---a districtwide elementary curriculum---has been most successful. When sixth-graders enter the middle schools, they will all be computer literate, all having been exposed to the same curriculum. ''This is not the wave of the future, this is what is here now,'' said Ms. Bosworth, ''We want to be sure that all of the children have every opportunity to become technologically sophisticated.''

Although board goals will be set in the fall, Ms. Bosworth did state that one goal will be to ensure that as many students as possible receive a Regents diploma. Great Neck has always worked toward this goal, but new state standards involve a state mandate that requires all students to follow a Regents curriculum, take Regents courses and exams, and receive a Regents diploma in order to graduate.

''Many students will need a lot of support, and it will be our job to see that such support is in place,'' said Ms. Bosworth. Some such support already exists. For example, Math Course II with a lab was so successful that students asked for Math Course III with a lab, a request that was granted, allowing more students to continue in the sequential math series.

Of course, the best possible education is vital for all youngsters, and Ms. Bosworth emphasizes that it is ''important to have schools where students reach their fullest potential...schools where there are different ways for them to achieve and to find out what's important to them....Schools must have an environment to encourage this...''

This, she said, is what the Great Neck schools do so well. ''Schools tend to be judged on academic achievements, and we are proud of our achievements, but there are things that you can't always quantify,'' she added. Ms. Bosworth explained that there is so much more to the Great Neck schools than statistics---young musicians performing locally and at Lincoln Center; school musicals and dramas; art opportunities; a full athletic program; many, many clubs and organizations such as newspapers, magazines, Model Congress, Model UN; and, of course, a wide range of academic courses, including a long list of advanced placement courses and science research programs.

''There are unlimited opportunities for students of all abilities,'' she stressed, ''Everyone can find a niche, a full, enriching extracurricular program, along with rigorous academic programs.''

Ms. Bosworth, who has served as school board vice president for the past three years, was appointed to the board of education in 1991, and was then elected for a one-year term in 1992. In 1993 she was elected again, this time for a three-year term. The board elected her vice president at the July 5, 1995 organizational meeting, and president at this month's organizational meeting.

Prior to her appointment to the board of education, Ms. Bosworth held many PTA positions, including South High and Saddle Rock Elementary School PTA president. She also served as executive vice president of the United Parent Teacher Council.

A teacher by profession, Judi Bosworth has held many other education-related positions within the community: a member of the Jewish Board of Education of Temple Beth-El, a member of the board of directors of the Great Neck/Manhasset Child Care Coalition, a member of the board of directors of FOCUS, and the regional representative for the State Legislative Network of the New York State School Boards Association. Ms. Bosworth also serves as a director of the Great Neck United Community Fund and as liaison from the board of education to the Great Neck Senior Center.

Judi Bosworth and her husband, Jay, a radiologist/oncologist in private practice, have lived in Great Neck for 18 years. They have two sons, Brian, a Princeton graduate who is entering his fourth year at medical school at Columbia University, and Michael, who will be a junior at Princeton University this fall.

Judi Bosworth looks forward to a new school year and a further opportunity to use her expertise and her energy toward working for the Great Neck schools.

''We are fortunate to have such supportive administration, faculty, parents, and community members who all work together,'' she said, ''We are proud of what our schools are doing, but there is always room for improvement.''