It was erroneously reported by the media (Newsday, March 10, 2006 "Nassau's Plea for School Aid") that the Levittown School District has not been represented in either the "rally" held by Nassau County Executive, Tom Suozzi, or in the various committee meetings which had researched the needs of Nassau County school districts vis-a-vis state aid and other taxation issues. The fact is that representatives of the Levittown School District not only attended, but, moreover, took an active part in the several meetings hosted by Mr. Suozzi, including the sub-committee on expenditures and the sub-committee on revenue. The input of Levittown's representatives helped both of these sub-committees avoid technical errors in addressing the various issues that were brought forward by the committees and ultimately by Mr. Suozzi.

School boards in New York State were originally established and have maintained a long tradition of non-partisanship. Outside of the state's larger cities, board of education candidates do not run as Democrats or Republicans, and generally take pains to separate national, state and local politics from school district matters. The Levittown School Boards have for many years respected and proudly upheld New York state's tradition of political independence and local control of its public schools.

However ingenuous Mr. Suozzi's motives in convening a Nassau County "grassroots" committee on school finances may or may not have been during the months of January and February, Newsday and other media had relentlessly characterized the committee's work and the "rally" on Thursday, March 9, 2006 as Mr. Suozzi's announcement of his platform for his candidacy for governor of New York State. While the Levittown School Board has made it clear that it will support any changes in the way public schools are financed inNew York state - wherein such changes maintain local control of public schools, and provide stability for students and taxpayers alike - it cannot take part in any venture that is generally considered to be party politics. To this end, the Levittown School Board renews its pledge to continue to work with Mr. Suozzi's "grassroots" committee, with our region's elected state officials, and with our current and any future governor.

Dr. Herman Sirois

Superintendent of Levittown Schools