The board of education is deliberating on the proposed capital bond issue amounts. These amounts now range from $85 to $90 million. The Concerned Citizens are still pursuing information from the board that can assist the group in establishing a more logical proposal which could include a capital program phased over a nine to 10 year period coinciding with school enrollment and population increases.

Over a month ago the Concerned Citizens sent a letter to Dr. Nelson requesting information that the group had received inquiries about. To date it has had no response. How can we offer an option for your, the citizens and taxpayers, to consider?

(An excerpt from the letter is attached)

Let's get answers to our questions before another bond issue is attempted. It costs money, our money, for such a bond vote. Let's all be diligent about our responsibilities.

Dr. Arthur H. Mittelstaedt, Jr., Ed.D.

Concerned Citizens For Education in Port Washington

Dr. Roy Nelson

President

Board of Education

Dear Dr. Nelson:

Our group has received numerous inquiries to ascertain what we know and we have no answers. We have agreed to serve as a conduit of information exchange as the document, "Frequently Asked Questions," does not seem to portray the residents' faith in the responses. For example, question 3. a) of the circulated document, does not indicate that the expansion projects full set of A & E plans and specs have to be approved by July 1. This means one big crunch to get a 70 to 80 or 90 million capital construction endeavor at six schools completed in six months by virtually a one man office. Who is kidding who?

So, we have pursued an effort of due diligence to seek the answers. A series of questions have come to our attention and we have chosen several key ones to start our series of questions to you. These questions and backup information is also requested in compliance with FOIA guidelines. We look forward to a response as soon as possible.

1. What is the status of the Engineering Feasibility Report of the Sands Point Site (Guggenheim Site) as prepared by Nelson & Pope LLP i.e., has it been approved? Approved with modifications? Etc? We would appreciate a copy of any and all corrections to the March representation.

2. What are the credentials of Frendenthal and Elkowitz, the firm which has recently been retained? What is the specific purpose and scope of their contract? We would appreciate a copy of their agreement and scope.

3. What are the credentials of Smith and Ottiano the architectural firm that has been the BOE architect? What is the specific purpose and scope of their contract? We would appreciate a copy of their agreement and scope.

4. What is the latest project that has been filed with the SED as we have been advised that 98-1495 for Guggenheim is the latest? We would appreciate a copy of the application.

5. What is the target population (enrollment projection) for the middle school after 10 years as the Final Addendum 9-22-99 of Franklin Hill Associates states 1,200 and the "Green Sheet" Enrollment Projects using eight years average etc. indicate it is 1,213? We would appreciate a copy of their latest report.

6. What is meant by Total Student Capacity at 73 percent utilization (the addendum states 70 percent on the last page) as this TSC should be comparable to the enrollment projection or is there an over build capacity of space that would allow another 27 percent increase in the capacity? We would appreciate a copy of the latest building analysis.

7. What update has there been to the "District Wide Facility Assessment Study" since its publication in 5-19-98 particularly the Guggenheim School as the description of the building condition exterior has a lot of information to be desired immediately around the building? We would appreciate a copy of the latest study with additions and deletions.

8. What update has there been to the report on the "Gatehouse" and grounds dated 1998? We would appreciate a copy of the latest building analysis with additions and deletions.

9. What are the actual plans of the Guggenheim Fields and adjacent property now and projected? We would appreciate reviewing the latest set.

10. What development costs have even estimated and projected and where is the funding coming from? We would appreciate a current cost estimate.

11. What do the costs include: ie, continuing maintenance, insurance, bathrooms, environmental mediation? We would appreciate a description.

12. What costs will be within the Capital Bond Issue or will they be in the next year's school budget? We would appreciate a clarification.

13. What plans, specs and cost estimates for any or all schools will be available for community review? We would appreciate a preview of them.

These are the questions that we need answers to in order to re-establish citizen's confidence in the board and administration.

Dr. Arthur H. Mittelstaedt Jr., Ed.D.

Member for the Leadership Committee