Although in large part due to the residue of the Roslyn School District finance scandal, we, as a neighborhood and a school community, seem to have recently permitted little snippets of misinformation and mis-truths to take on significant proportion rather than rely on the conscientious and principled efforts of the individuals who have been elected and appointed to oversee our school system and its finances. For those of you who took the time to read Mr. Bernstein's missive in last week's Syosset-Jericho Tribune (July 8, 2005 - "A Symbol of What is Wrong with Jericho"), please know the following:

Due to a number of external economic factors unrelated to the business of school, the cost to provide the superintendent of schools with a district purchased Buick LeSabre ended up costing the district $1,166 per month for the 2003/04 school year. The newly leased district car provided to the superintendent costs the district $662 per month.

It's not rocket science: $662 per month is less than $1,166 per month. The board of education has again exercised sound financial planning in reducing this expense by more than 43 percent. Why does Mr. Bernstein, the husband of former school board member Saundra Gumerove-Bernstein, protest this savings? One might attribute this protest to personal agenda;

I ask you to decide.

The plan to reduce this district expense came during Ms. Gumerove-Bernstein's last days on the Jericho School Board in 2004. That being the case, why was her husband's letter submitted for publication? Again, I ask you to decide.

How much negativity should this community tolerate? As Mr. Bernstein and Ms. Gumerove-Bernstein continue their efforts to spread misinformation and mis-truths (see Syosset-Jericho Tribune April 15, 2005, May 6, 2005 and May 20, 2005), I ask you to reject their attempts to discredit the dedicated work and care this school board exerts on your behalf. I, as well as all others on our school board, encourage your active participation in the process. If you have a question, please ask. If it can't be answered immediately, it will be answered in short time. If you have an opinion, offer it. Do not let personal agenda, petty gripes and innuendo ruin our success.

Ira Checkla

Jericho School Board Member