(Editor's Note: Letters to the editor are not routinely reviewed by the school board. In a special case, where the editor is concerned about material in an individual letter, this procedure was followed.)

At the Aug. 18 board of education meeting, Mr. Maimone discussed the procedure whereby letters concerning the school district that are sent to the editor of the Manhasset Press are routinely reviewed by the board of education prior to a letter's publication in the newspaper, thereby giving the board an advantage, unlike ordinary residents, to respond immediately to any letter. Since this is the situation, I will phrase a portion of my letter in a series of questions.

An issue raised at the August board meeting was the October, 2003 demographic study which projected an increase of 119 students for the 2004-2005 school year. Was it the October 2003 demographic study which led to the proposal to house the sixth grade in the high school; hire an architect at a cost of $125,000, to date; propose a $63 million bond and then, when faced with community opposition, shelve the entire project? Is it true that the company that conducted the demographic study "doesn't answer the phone anymore?" Is it true that the board is hiring another demographic company to do another demographic study and at what cost?

It defies logic when the board blames "state mandates" for the high cost of education in Manhasset when every district has "state mandates" but manages to educate students; achieve similar and often better results, with much lower per student expenditures. The board should refrain from blaming "state mandates" and refrain from advocating partisan positions which divide the community. The board should hear the message of the last budget vote and begin to represent all residents by providing quality education while eliminating a culture of waste and excess. It is most important that the message be heard, particularly in a year of union negotiations.

Laurann Pandelakis