At the Jan. 19, 2006 meeting of the Mineola Board of Education, the auditing firm of Callaghan Nawrocki LLP presented an overview of its fiscal audit of the school district for the year ending June 30, 2005. Among its overall observations, the firm found that "The district over-expended its taxpayer approved budget by approximately $3.2 million ..." Isn't it interesting that this summary report never made it to the district web page?

Yet, on Feb. 28, 2006, the Mineola Board of Education, under the leadership of the superintendent of schools, is asking the community to support a $10 million bond for capital repairs. The very same members of the board of education (with the exception of one new member), who served under the leadership of the superintendent of schools that over-expended last year's budget by approximately $3.2 million, wants taxpayers to trust them with an additional $10 million taxpayer dollars. Isn't trust earned? Why not show the community that they can be trusted not to over-spend the taxpayer approved money in this year's 2006 budget?

The copy of the Outreach (Special Bond Edition 2006) that was mailed to district residents states that "until 2004, Mineola did not have a plan in place for capital improvement and preventive maintenance." What? What kind of leadership is this? The current superintendent of schools was employed by the district for several years prior to 2004. Did he not see this as a pending problem waiting to rear its ugly head? Indeed, the board of education members are volunteers. However, they are guided by a superintendent of schools, who receives a very generous salary and benefits package. Why did he not suggest that more money be put into the budget for capital improvements and preventive maintenance? If he didn't, why did the board members fail to see the need for this? Clearly, the Mineola Board of Education, under the leadership of the superintendent of schools, was afraid that it would increase the budget numbers and jeopardize the passing of the annual budgets. Has the Mineola School District decided that it will propose a bond for all preventive repairs in the future?

Think twice before you vote for the proposed bond. Why should we trust the board of education with any additional money? As the audit shows, they haven't demonstrated that they can manage an agreed upon and taxpayer approved budget.

Daniel Ness, Ph.D.