The East Williston School District will be having an important organizational meeting scheduled for July 5. At this meeting the five board members, including myself, will be choosing the next president on the EWSD Board of Education.

Our district has come a long way from the failed budget of two years past. The credibility and trust, which was lost has been regained as evidenced by the tremendous support the last two budgets have received. I feel it is incumbent that our next president be one that will continue to bridge the gap between the differing segments of our community.

Furthermore that person should be one who will garner the trust and respect of our community. That is why I intend to nominate and support trustee Ellen Ritz as our next president. Below is a letter I sent to our other board members asking them to join me in supporting her. My reasons are listed below. As I hope you will see, Ellen has earned, deserves and is the right person for the role.

I ask that you attend the July organizational meeting and show support for Ellen also. You may not have a vote, but your voice and presence will be even more powerful. Here is the letter I sent to the other board members.

Dear fellow board members:

At our organizational meeting in July we will be electing a Board President.

I want you all to know that I intend to nominate Ellen Ritz for Board President and ask that you support her also. My reasons and observations are as follows:

• Ellen has attended numerous school board conferences this past year including Albany in the summer, Rochester in the fall, the law conference, a seminar on negotiating contracts and also achieved her required school board training. This is far and above any other board members attendance at these important NYSSBA functions.

• Although not a formal capital committee member, she has attended many of those meetings also.

•It is my understanding that Ellen regularly attends PTO meetings at all three schools.

• Ellen spent a great deal of time reviewing the budget including meeting with our assistant superintendent and analyzing various items and areas.

• Ellen was involved with the Suozzi committees on school finances and attended those meetings.

• She is a proactive board member and it is apparent that she fully reviews the board packet the board members receive each week.

In fairness, she has done the most to earn this position. Not to mention probably the two most important reasons why she would be the right choice. First she has the time to devote to this function. It is my understanding that the president assists with both the board agendas and the board packet each week, a time consuming function. The remaining three returning board members, including myself, have full time jobs and careers and have also made other pledges and commitments already such as to fundraise, serve on the audit and capital committees as examples. Secondly Ellen is an objective board member who is always willing to listen. She represents a voice for the community and would be the right choice to continue to bring the community together and on the path of progress we have made.

I ask that we put principles before personalities, objectiveness before politics and friendships and do what is truly the right thing for our children and our community. As such I intend to nominate her and ask that you support her in this role also.

Sigi Huhn, Trustee of the East Williston School District