This is in response to Mrs. Koegl's letter of May 25. Ms. Koegl is very clever with words, creating an aura of truth while distorting the facts.

To clarify her misstatements one last time: In the past, there was a zero percent teacher salary increase for the first year of a multi-year contract. That contract was negotiated by then union president, Robert Zaleski, approved by the union membership and unanimously approved by the Board of Education, including some current board members. As Ms. Koegl is aware, one board member alone cannot approve any action. There are seven board members; each with equal voting power and all actions must be approved by at least four votes. A board president has no more authority than any other board member does, and Ms. Koegl knows that. Why hadn't she named her friends currently serving on the board who also voted for a zero percent increase?

The depletion of the fund balance that Ms. Koegl keeps harping about was caused by a last minute change in the state aid formula, after the district had made its budget projections. The reduction of the fund balance was voted on unanimously by the board to reduce the tax rate and Ms. Koegl knows that. Why hadn't she named her friends currently serving on the board who also voted to reduce the tax rate?

We have never advocated eliminating the fine arts curriculum. We are in favor of a strong and meaningful music, art and drama curriculum. However, we have advocated better financial management of individual activities and placing the primary emphasis on academic programs to prepare our students properly to achieve their future life goals. Life is not all fun and games.

Our criticisms have been of board actions. We have not engaged in the politics of personal destruction. According to Ms. Koegl, the board president is personally responsible for everything that happens in the district. Is the current board president personally responsible for the leaking roofs, asbestos and sick children at Lee Avenue School? Is she personally responsible for the fact that there is no contract with the teacher's union, the co-generation and self-insurance fiascoes, etc.? Eight hundred forty-one taxpayers voted "no" on the last budget. There is certainly a message there for board members if they choose to recognize it.

We will not dialogue any further with Ms. Koegl on these matters. However, it is our opinion that in the future, the public should question Ms. Koegl's credibility when she supposedly present her facts.

Helen M. Lafferty