Numerous Massapequa school sources have informed me that Massapequa School District employees have been clearing snow from the Lee Place Walkway many times over many years. Meanwhile, many school officials have written many times that the town maintains this walkway. Should I assume that because my letter of September, 1997 remains unanswered, two years later, this school board chooses to not address the truth? Is it true that school maintenance employees have worked during school hours, over many years, on town property, only to justify keeping my children and many other children off a school bus?

Now that Mr. VanNostrand and Dr. Brucia are no longer involved in this issue, who will clear this walkway this winter, when the town tells us they have no maintenance records, because maintenance of primary and secondary arteries take precedence over the clearing of walkways? All children in the Massapequa School District some day, will be measured for busses normally, equally and fairly, i.e., the way you measure for one, is the way you measure for all.

Our court case and our appeal to the commissioner both clearly indicated that this is and always was a discretionary decision and never was a must measurement. (School officials have written many times that this is a must measurement). Please stop the discrimination and please provide normal, equal and fair measurements to all children in Massapequa School District, as suggested by the commissioner's letter of March 18, 1997.

Please elaborate as to who will clear the snow this winter in time for our children to safely get to school the next time it snows, now that Dr. Brucia has retired, and Mr. VanNostrand, who created this issue in 1964, is no longer providing legal advice to the school district.

We all have more important things to do for our children. Meanwhile, the Massapequa School District has spent an enormous amount of effort, time and money to justify an unfair, discretionary and discriminating policy, to benefit the school district and not our children.

For over 30 years, my community has been entitled to busses, and has been denied. For over 30 years, my community has been paying for busses and been deprived. For over 30 years, this school district has discriminated against and cheated the community of Arlyn Oaks.

I look forward to a prompt written reply to this matter from all school board members.

Francis X. Duffy

For the People of Arlyn Oaks