As we have seen all over Long Island, a number of school districts are voting down their bond referendums, the most recent being the Herricks School District. It is my feeling that in all likelihood, had our community accepted the proposal of the previous board president to build a fourth school at a cost of over $32 million, we would now be facing the same fate.

Instead, we find ourselves getting ready to vote on a responsible plan that meets all of our district's needs. We are fortunate to have a new superintendent, and a new board who have worked tirelessly to put together a thoroughly researched, comprehensive facilities plan, one that all of the communities in the East Williston School District can accept. This plan exemplifies the continued pursuit of excellence in this district. It is one that will enhance and improve all three of our schools, expand our children's educational opportunities, and preserve our property values as well.

I applaud our board of education and our superintendent for all of their efforts in striving to maintain the fine reputation of our schools, while being sensitive to the entire taxpaying community.

Joseph R. Bosnack, Sr.

On May 16, the East Williston School District is holding a crucial school board election in which incumbent, Mrs. Susan Bergtraum, is being challenged by Mr. Jeffrey Saporta. Mrs. Bergtraum has held a seat on the board for nine years and we feel that it is time for the community to examine many of her decisions.

As most of you know, our school district is currently involved in a legal dispute with Bell Atlantic Mobile regarding the construction of a cellular tower on the Willets Road School property. At a recent school board meeting, Mrs. Bergtraum reluctantly acknowledged that it was she who referred Bell Atlantic to the school district. She stated that the telephone company first approached her and her husband with an offer to erect the cellular tower on their property; it was an offer that they refused. In turn, she decided to refer the company to our school district as a potential site for a tower. This was an unfortunate decision that has had serious repercussions.

We are concerned because of other even more disturbing decisions that Mrs. Bergtraum has made, including:

In 1998, Mrs. Bergtraum, then the vice president of the board, voted in favor of building a fourth school at a cost of over $32 million, not including the costs to furnish, equip and staff this fourth building. Needless to say, this expense would lead to cuts in academic courses, programs and educational opportunities for the children.

After the new board carefully researched the priority needs of our other three school buildings (renovation and up-grades, technology necessities and space utilization) it was determined that we can accomplish our goals of excellence in education without the additional financial burdens of maintaining and staffing yet another structure.

In 1998, Mrs. Bergtraum voted in favor of spending $16,000 of the school district's money on an Environmental Impact Study, before obtaining taxpayer approval of the proposed plan;

In 1998, Mrs. Bergtraum voted in favor of hiring, again at the taxpayer's expense, a public relations firm to "sell" this fourth building to the public.

While Mrs. Bergtraum has credits to her name, and has a history with the EWSD board of education, the decisions facing our school district today are difficult and demanding. They must be addressed by individuals with practical and pervasive knowledge, with business expertise and with a legal education.

Mr. Saporta has all of these qualifications. Our district can greatly benefit from a person who has a law degree and who has spent the last 25 years working in real estate, making informed business decisions on a daily basis. The future is now. We must provide our children with a technologically-advanced educational environment and we can't afford to make incorrect decisions that will be paid for out of their educational funds.

Elect Jeff Saporta on May 16 and help make a difference.

Pam Bernard, Martin Bernard

On Monday, April 17, I was present at an East Williston School Board meeting when many in the school district community voiced their opposition to the construction by Bell Atlantic of a cellular tower and access driveway on the Willets Road School campus. This construction would be pursuant to contract executed in 1998 between Bell Atlantic and a prior school board and requires a permit from the Town of North Hempstead. Although community pressure resulted in the withdrawal of the current application without prejudice, there is no reason to assume that Bell Atlantic will not reintroduce the application in the future.

At the board meeting, Mrs. Susan Bergstraum, a current board member as well as a member in 1998, admitted under questioning that she was the person responsible for bringing this project to the school board. Apparently, Bell Atlantic initially approached Mrs. Bergstraum and her husband in hopes that they would permit the construction on their property. They declined and referred this project to the school board where she voted in favor of the subsequent contract between the board and Bell Atlantic.

At this Monday night meeting, I marveled to later listen to Mrs. Bergstraum's meandering soliloquy in the middle of the board meeting wherein she voiced her continuing concern for the "best interests of our children" as a basis for her re-election. Where was this concern when she directed this project to our district and then voted for this ill-conceived construction which is a major health and safety risk to our children?

Gail S. Kelner

Electing Ben Zwirn on May 2 to the 11th Legislative District seat can have an immense, immediate and positive impact on the future of Nassau County. This independence politico would be the swing vote in a Legislature which now has nine Democrats and nine Republicans. In that pivotal position, he has both the strength and the knowledge to make sure that it addresses the basic cause of the county's near bankruptcy---its inflated payroll---before dealing with a Democratic patronage, in the O.T.B., for example.

The Democratic Party's behavior in this election is not something this elected committeeman can be proud of. If it really wanted to clean up the County mess, it would have nominated an experienced candidate, such as Mr. Zwirn, rather than adding another novice to the inexperienced legislators it already elected. So if residency questions cause the removal of Democratic nominee Craig Johnson from the ballot, I hope my party's leaders will place the needs of the County ahead of personal squabbles and party patronage, and nominate Mr. Zwirn.

Nathaniel S. Lehrman

It is a pleasure to write this letter to endorse the re-election of Susan Bergtraum to the East Williston School Board. Susan is a board member who believes strongly in actively participating in the activities of the school system.

Susan is the ultimate volunteer; she serves on myriad East Williston School committees. From the districtwide Drug Committee, the Cafeteria Committee, the District Cultural Arts Committee, The District Teacher Center, the Scholarship Fund, the East Williston Education Foundation, and the Community Network - Susan is dedicated to contributing to the education of our children. She is tireless in her effort to be an advocate for programs that contribute to the welfare of our children and the specialness of the district.

Please vote for Susan Bergtraum on Tuesday, May 16, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Wheatley gym.

Linda Sussman