In response to a resident letter published in the last edition of Garden City Life we would like to share with you facts which may help clarify the many misstatements of facts contained within that letter.

Fact

1. The Ad Hoc Committee of the School Board formed as a result of public outcry of the defeated school bond referendum as its first order of business on Feb. 12 ordered a new demographic study regarding the Garden City School System.

Fact

2. The new demographer (Paula Klingenhoffer) is the recognized expert in school demographics for Nassau and Suffolk County. Klingenhoffer happens to supervise the Demographics Department of the Western Suffolk BOCES.

Fact

3. Since the study is being performed by BOCES the school district will receive a rebate in excess of 40 percent of the cost from the state. Saving taxpayer dollars and obtaining "Best Value" is at the forefront in the committee's decision-making process.

Fact

4. The Demography Department of Western Suffolk BOCES was utilized by critics of the original demographic study as the recognized authority for demographics in this region.

Fact

5. The Ad Hoc Committee pre-qualified eight architectural firms; details reviewed five firms; checked references; toured sample projects and made its architectural recommendation in a very objective fashion.

Fact

6. The contract for Architectural and Engineering services recently signed by the district was drafted and reviewed by a highly qualified team of attorneys working pro-bono. Upon finalization it was forwarded to district counsel for final review which kept costs to the bare minimum and saved the school district and ultimately the taxpayers thousands of dollars.

Fact

7. The new architectural contract is very "pro-Garden City School District" allowing for increased flexibility and power resting with the district so opposed to the professionals.

Fact

8. The members of the Ad-Hoc Committee have, among its members, parents of children in schools encompassing nearly all district schools and residents who have no children in the Garden City schools.

With regard to any additions or rehabilitation which may or may not be required at any of the district schools I urge all residents to tour their local school and objectively observe and determine the existing conditions and needs for themselves. You may be both enlightened and surprised by what you see.

Lastly, if you wish to share with us any thoughts you may have please write us at:

Garden City Board of Ed

Ad Hoc Committee

c/o Administration

56 Cathedral Avenue

Garden City, NY 11530

If you can't find the time to write us, please feel free to attend one of our many presentations over the coming months.

John P. Sullivan, Committee chairman

on Behalf of the Ad Hoc Committee

James Carney, John Dionisio, Charles Koester, Ken Monaghan, Reid Sclafani, Cosmo Veneziale