(Editor's Note: The following letter was sent to the Hicksville Board of Education on Oct. 8, 2005. Helen Lafferty is a former president/trustee of the Hicksville Board of Education.)

After several telephone calls, I was advised by the administration of the Hicksville School District that the new contract with the Hicksville Congress of Teachers Union, signed on April 19 and "under review" since that time, had been finalized in August. There is no question in my mind that our teachers were entitled to a salary increase. They were near the bottom of the salary scale for Nassau County residents.

In my opinion, the school board should now direct Superintendent of Schools Maureen Bright to publicly inform the Hicksville taxpayers of the details of that contract and how it will impact the taxpayers financially. I believe the following information should be made public in the local press:

1. The length of the contract and the effective date;

2. The total percentage increase and the percentage increase for each year;

3. The total cost of the contract and was money budgeted for the increase;

4. If not budgeted, how the increase will be funded;

5. Were there any concessions to offset the cost of hours worked, medical or sick leave, benefit changes, etc.

With the current increases in home heating oil, gasoline at the pump, LIPA surcharges and property assessed value tax increases, it is vital that the school district keep the taxpayers financially informed. It should not be necessary for taxpayers to file FOIL (Freedom of Information Law) requests or to be put in the position of being an investigative reporter to gain access to this information. New York City informs the public immediately of the specific terms of new union agreements. The Hicksville School District taxpayers should also be informed.

I am enclosing a copy of school board policy #2225 regarding answering board correspondence. I will look forward to a prompt response to the above questions and whether or not the taxpayers will be publicly informed.

Helen Lafferty