I was in attendance the night the Mineola Board of Education decided to vote for a contingency budget for the 2005-2006 school year. The board was visibly upset after the defeat of the school budget and the bond referendum and many of the no voters in the audience reinforced their beliefs about the current state of the district.

The board has done a tremendous amount of work preparing a comprehensive budget and bond referendum. I believe the board still has time to rescind their votes to go to a contingency budget and put the budget out for a revote along with the bond referendum. I would certainly vote yes on both issues and work twice as hard to get the yes voters to the polls.

To the board of education, please do not give up without a fight.

Andrew H. Ward