For the past week, Newsday has brought to the public's attention yet another story about some Long Island school districts' theft of public funds.

The law firm representing our district has been implicated in this newly discovered scheme to defraud the taxpayers of New York State, with the complicity of a number of school districts. One partner in this law firm was reported by five school districts to be a full-time employee of theirs at the same time! This enabled him to collect a large New York State pension while his firm was getting paid hundreds of thousands of dollars by these same school districts.

Though the Glen Cove School District may not have done anything wrong, either morally or legally, we employ the accused law firm Ingerman, Smith (no relation). One of the partners in that firm, John Gross, has been working with us for some time. He is quoted by Newsday as having made statements regarding the legitimacy of his firm and other partners' behavior that I think most people would consider inappropriate at the very least. There is now a major criminal investigation by the New York State Attorney General's Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation going on concerning this law firm, other firms and their attorneys - at least one of which our school district has employed in the past.

These law firms, who specialize in educational law, do many types of work for school districts. They give advice, they litigate cases and they negotiate contracts with school district employees. While the first two seem to be appropriate for law firms, I do not believe it is appropriate for lawyers to be negotiators of employment contracts for the very people who hire them. In addition to that conflict of interest, I have never met a person trained in the law, of whom I've met many, to be as good a negotiator as the many business people who I have known. No amount of formal schooling can teach the natural street smart ability of a great negotiator. There are plenty of people in every school district who could do this job better and more fairly than any law firm, and for a lot less money. I know many great negotiators right here in Glen Cove!

How can the public be treated fairly and honestly when those entrusted with their fiduciary responsibility are inappropriate and ineffectual? The outrageously high property taxes we pay are due in part to bad deals made by inept or possibly corrupt people.

I personally do not want any of my tax money given to any firm who cheats anyone. We should not be dealing with corrupt companies of any type. Even though they have not yet been proven guilty of any crime, things that have been done and said by our law firm are contrary to the principles of ethical and, perhaps, legal behavior. Therefore, I believe they should be dismissed as our attorneys immediately.

I also want a complete accounting of all payments made by the school district to all people, and their status, whether employee or individual contractor, for the last ten years. I know the attorney general will ask for this and I think it should be made available for the public as well. With the myriad scandals revealed almost daily, it is the least our administration can do to reassure the public.

Rick Smith

The Glen Cove Adult Day Program would like to extend a giant, heartfelt thank you to members of our community for their generous contributions and support. We recently received the gift of a brand new stove for our kitchen, donated to us by Mark Laffey. It has improved our food service here, where our participants look forward to being served a delicious hot lunch every day.

And since we love to throw parties, we have also received donations of colorful party ware, decorations, cakes and candies graciously given to us by Barbara LaPetri, Barbara Horton, Claire Maxey, Jane Stuart and Lee and Hector DelValle. We appreciate the kindness and thoughtfulness of these special people. Many others drop off anonymous "surprises" to us throughout the year, and even though they don't leave their names, we want them to know that their gifts bring cheer and delight to so many people! All our benefactors are truly "angels!"

We at the GCADP feel that we are a little-known jewel right here in the heart of Glen Cove. Our program within the Glen Cove Senior Center provides an activity-filled, social "day out" for elderly seniors, while offering respite for the family members who care for them. We are a non-profit organization, gratefully funded by New York State, Nassau County, and the City of Glen Cove, yet the gifts we receive from caring members of our community enhance our program immeasurably. Once again, we thank you!

Lisa Craig, Program Director

Glen Cove Adult Day Program