As a stockholder in this community and school district, I must urge all of my fellow shareholders to vote "no" in regard to the upcoming $40 million school bond. Why should we reward the school board and incur debt, when this board has had a nonperforming and depreciating asset (Willis Avenue School) for nearly 10 years. If the school board cannot make an executive decision and has mismanaged a vacant building what will happen with $40 million?

Furthermore, the academic performance and reputation of the school system is lackluster, and is in fact directly reflected in the residential real estate market. As a licensed and active real estate appraiser, I am aware of the property values of our neighboring communities. For example, single family dwellings located within walking distances of Mineola's boarders in the Herricks School District have selling prices starting at $250,000. They range up to $400,000. The Herricks School District spends the same per student as ours which is estimated at $14,000 per student per year. These homes do not have any of the amenities that the Village of Mineola possesses such as: The most desirable train station in Nassau County, a residents-only pool and park system, a teaching university hospital, the county court system and municipal buildings (which brings stability and white collar jobs to the area), an excellent business community with numerous fine restaurants and support facilities, as well as a dedicated mayor and village board that continues to improve the infrastructure of Mineola, etc.

Similar Cape Cod dwellings in Mineola range in price from $180,000 to $220,000. The answer is simple: The School District. You will never find new homeowners moving here to be in the Mineola Schools system.

The stockholders and taxpayers of Mineola should no longer tolerate or accept the constant excuses from the school system that the burden of influx of recent immigrants is lowering our test scores, as compared to surrounding communities. The Herricks student body has a large number of immigrants and first generation children. I welcome aspiring immigrants to Mineola, because that is what America was built on.

What amazes me is that the school district can produce a first rate world class marching band which requires students to play an instrument, read music, march, follow instructions and keep in time while marching in a large group. I assume this requires dedication and discipline. Why isn't the school administration placing the same emphasis in the classroom utilizing these proven skills the student possess?

I believe the emphasis of the school system is to concentrate on the three "R"s, and raise test scores and have more students bound for first rate colleges!

Mr. Lewis indicated the school bond would cover new computers and provide Internet access for the students. I say let the home computer gain access to the Internet, the Internet does not raise test scores.

Bottom line-the school district performance adversely affects the stockholders of the village as follows:

1. Our children do not get a quality education as comparable to surrounding school districts.

2. Our children will not be able to gain entrance to first rate colleges and universities. This will result in lack of superior quality career opportunities and the loss of a higher quality of lifelong contacts.

3. Mineola will not attract a higher caliber of individuals and families to the area. (i.e. if new homeowner pays $300,000 for a Cape Cod they typically will not have an illegal unit in their basement or on the second floor).

4. There will be an economic ceiling placed on the value of your home. This will limit equity as your source of funds for college tuition for your children or investment opportunities for the financial markets of a second home.

5. Senior citizens will be penalized with less equity in their home for retirement.

Richard Maher