Same stuff, different day. The current board has chosen to once again put a bond referendum before the public. Nothing has changed. The cards have been reshuffled and dealt in two hands. The basic problem, lack of due diligence, is again apparent in this bond proposal.

This community, that overwhelmingly voted for the three new board members, deserves due diligence. We deserve to have a bond referendum that has been thoughtfully prepared and is based on research, not just the estimate of the architect, based on his experience with other districts.

Augustine Tornatore, a new board member was sworn in on May 21. Caryn Calabrese and Jim Pino, the other new board members will be sworn in on July 1. The community voiced the need for change when they cast 1,600, 1,700, and 1,800 votes for these new members. We should give them a chance to have a say in this important matter. Vote no on this same old bond. Send another message to the current board: change is needed and the new board should be the one to make it.

Dr. Edward Finn, Superintendent of Schools, announced his retirement as of August 1 at the May 21 board of education meeting. At a special meeting of the board on May 29 they accepted his resignation. In doing so, this board has allowed Dr. Finn to leave without adequate notification. It often takes more than six months to search for, interview, and hire a new superintendent. By agreeing to accept his retirement, this board has given Dr. Finn family medical and dental for life, nine years of life insurance and all the benefits he would have received if his contract was not mutually broken. This will cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The immediate acceptance of Dr. Finn's retirement and no public notification of an imminent search for a new superintendent would leave one to conclude that Maureen Bright, the assistant superintendent, would be the current board's choice for superintendent. Ms. Bright, who single-handedly alienated every employee of the district, was the sole architect of the Caren Werfelman debacle. Ms. Bright's admonishment and threat to this teacher's job for taking three days to help at the WTC disaster site as a volunteer firefighter, culminated in embarrassing the entire community on national television.

Talk to any teacher, secretary or employee of this district and you too will know that the animosity Ms. Bright has brought between the administration and employees is palpable. Look at the scores of our children next to their peers in Nassau County and you too will see how this once exceptional district has been driven to the bottom of the list by the current administration and board. Let the new board members have a say for change and choice of a superintendent.

Voice your thoughts on this to the current board and ask them to allow this crucial decision to be made after July 1 by the new board. Our children deserve the best we can offer - a new superintendent and a new administration.

Carole Lawson