(Editor's Note: The following letter was sent to the Westbury Board of Education and is being reprinted here at the writer's request.)

I am a Westbury homeowner and as such pay some of the highest school taxes in the nation. My expectation is that you and your colleagues will uphold your fiduciary responsibilities and ensure due diligence in considering proposals to spend funds including two key elements 1) sufficient time to consider merits and drawbacks of such plans and 2) allow for public input (including questions) prior to making such decisions, from your constituents, e.g. those who vote for you and for whom (and their children) you serve.

I learned from a neighbor that at last night's board meeting, there was a sense or urgency among some board members to pass Resolution 9.1, which involves leasing classroom space at a school in Wantagh to expand our district's pre-K program.

The scheduling of a public forum at 8 a.m. on a regular work day is at best insensitive to the needs and schedules of working families and at worst a scheme to stifle public input (presumably that which is opposed to the resolution).

I am also unclear as to why there is a rush to commence this agreement prior to the spring semester or Thanksgiving and with an initial lease period that retroactively is set for Oct. 15, 2008 and to end Oct. 14, 2009. This term is not aligned with the school year.

Finally, in a time of financial hardships in every aspect of our lives, it is important to ask if the funds proposed for this lease agreement could be better spent elsewhere. Our input as a community is key to this process. Perhaps there is a solution which could expand pre-K within our district and free up the funds for other projects. Rushing the resolution through with limited community input will not allow thoughtful, creative problem solving to occur.

I urge you to reschedule the 8 a.m. meeting to a day and time that allows a greater portion of the community to attend and participate in the process.

I look forward to hearing from you regarding my concerns.

Michael Lettera