(The following is being published as an open letter to the Plainedge School District community.)

According to the calendar, the school year may be over. But it's only over for the students. As the president of the CSEA-represented secretarial unit at the Plainedge School District, I can tell you that summer is a very busy time for us.

It takes virtually the entire summer to lay the groundwork so that the new school year begins without a hitch.

Once the new school session starts, the Plainedge secretaries essentially become a critical link in communications between the district, parents and teachers. We work hard every day to make sure that school runs smoothly all year long.

But you may not know that the Plainedge secretaries have been working for two years without a contract, let alone a fair one. That means we have gone without raises, and watched what spending power we do have shrink with every passing day. Still, we continue to provide essential school district services to you and your children. Won't you take a moment to help us?

You can support the Plainedge secretaries by making a quick phone call to or email the board of education and the District Superintendent Dr. Richman, on our behalf. Tell them that Plainedge secretaries deserve a fair contract now!

To send email to board members or administrators, use the first initial of the first name followed by the full last name, plus @plainedgeschools.org. For example: jrichman@plainedgeschools.org

You can call Dr. Richman at 992-7455.

On behalf of my hardworking members, I thank you for your time and support in this, our fight for fairness and respect.

Barbara Fisch, President

CSEA Plainedge School District Secretarial Unit