The Letter to the Editor in May 25 edition of The Roslyn News by Isadore Rakofsky went to great lengths to denigrate the service and character of a duly elected Board of Education Trustee, Jeff Borowick. The accusations in his letter are emblematic of the divisiveness and viciousness that have come to characterize so many in this community. Mr. Rakofsky's self-serving remarks underscore how this community is focused on petty issues and personalities rather than on the BOE's mandate to provide quality education in a cost-effective manner. Even is you do not agree with Mr. Borowick's positions, there is no doubt that he worked long and hard for many years to shed some light on a budgetary process that has been obscured by theft and gross mismanagement. Mr. Rakofsky would be well advised to convert his negative energy into a more positive approach, perhaps making a commitment to join the BAC or other school committees to gain useful, accurate information.

Glaringly omitted from Mr. Rakofsky's rant is that the proposed budget of more than $86 million failed as Roslyn voters rejected the proposed double digit percentage increase in the budget. Examining the budget even superficially reveals a lack of cost containment as the district steams ahead with increases in every major area. The budget presented continues to reflect programs that have never been evaluated but continue to exist and grow, with every budget requiring more funding to maintain the programs. Included again in the budget is more than a quarter of a million dollars for a 19-day summer program that is purely recreational and is, in essence, a camp. Why is this camp, with absolutely no academic component, run by Assistant Principal Barbara Schulz who last year earned almost $10,000? It employs so many teachers and others (a nurse making $7,000) that is nothing short of a cash cow for lucky employees who can curry favor to gain a spot and juice up their pensions. That last year's summer program was 100 percent over-budget did not seem to faze anyone in charge of spending, as the BOE funded it after the fact. My written inquiry as to how that occurred and where the additional funds came from was referred around administration and ultimately was never responded to. So what is the point of deciding on a budget anyway, if it is summarily and conveniently discarded when it is overrun? The key question is can this community continue to support a full day summer camp or is it time to place all of the available funding into resources dedicated to the school year?

I earnestly hope that the BOE finally begins to examine how funds are spent and uses the information that the BAC provides to its fullest advantage. It is entirely possible to offer a superb education that is much less costly - for what we have now is spending exuberance in a setting of profound educational mediocrity.

Lea Dann