On May 19, 2005, Newsday published the State Education Department's results for the fourth and eighth grade English tests taken by students in January 2005. Once again, the test results for the Mineola Public Schools are nowhere near the top. In fact, the percentage of students passing for both grade levels is below the county average.

Some improvement has been shown for both grades from the previous year. However, upon closer examination of the data, one will notice that on the fourth grade test, only five out of 54 Nassau County school districts administering the test reported a lower passing grade than Mineola. On the eighth grade test, only eight out of 45 school districts reported a lower passing grade than Mineola. With such scores as these, local realtors will certainly not be hearing prospective homeowners say, "We are moving to Mineola for the schools."

Taxpayers should expect better test results from a district that has the third highest spending per student in New York State and one of the most favorable (smallest) teacher-to-student class ratios on Long Island. In addition, only five districts spend more on administrators' salaries per student than Mineola.

Perhaps it isn't just a coincidence that the proposed budget and the $10 million referendum both failed to pass on May 17. Maybe the taxpayers of the district are beginning to question how their tax dollars are being spent.

Mark Diercks