I was disappointed and saddened by the level of animosity, distrust and anger that was displayed at the Dec. 8 Daly HSA meeting. During the meeting which had been scheduled to discuss the $85 million capital improvement plan about to be voted on by the board of education. Richard Sussman and John Zimmerman announced their plan would cost only approximately $35 million. Mr. Sussman and Mr. Zimmerman informed a stunned audience that their plan, never submitted to the board, would soon be published in another newspaper. Although pressed by many angry voices to explain the details of the plan, Mr. Sussman and Mr. Zimmerman are unwilling to share the details of their plan with the audience other than to say it would require the district to go back to a junior high structure.

I respectfully ask Mr. Sussman and Mr. Zimmerman to submit their plan immediately. With the board set to vote on the $85 million plan in early January and the financial clock ticking, there is no time to waste.

I take Mr. Sussman at his word when he said that he has only the best interest of the children in mind and that capital improvements are needed immediately to handle the increasing enrollment. Because of this, I implore Mr. Sussman and Mr. Zimmerman, as well as all the other members of the board, not to undermine any plan that is duly elected by the majority of the board. I encourage all board members to be as outspoken as they like and to submit reasonable alternative plans but once the board votes on a plan, the individual members of the board must do all they can to make sure that the approved plan has the best chance of succeeding in the general election. No board member should try to rip the community apart and cause needless delays to the much needed improvements simply because they do not agree with the majority decision.

In a democracy, minorities have a right to be heard and respected but it is the majority that rules. This is the time for Mr. Sussman and Mr. Zimmerman to present their plan and to be heard. In any event, we expect Mr. Sussman and Mr. Zimmerman to support the board's decision.