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Health & Fitness

Commack PTA Council (mis)Steps Beyond its Charter

The Commack PTA Council's methods used to rally the voters against Prop 2 are, to borrow from a PTA phrase, "suspect at best" and completely devoid of facts. The following bullet points, I have issue with, are excerpted from the PTA flyer: "... election will take place in summer benefiting special interest group backing proposition/ ... motivation behind the proposition is suspect at best. "

 It is true a special election would cost $15-$18,000. (This equals the amount of the raise the BOE approved for Dr. James' secretary.) That's a small price to pay for adding more representation to the BOE, and ensuring our student's interests will be well represented.

Trustee-elect Jim Tampellini authored this petition. No mystery here. His views on greater transparency and open government carried him to victory over the incumbent.

The PTA council owes the families of the district specific answers on: 1) who is the special interest group referenced 2) what is meant by "motivations are suspect at best." Please support your assertions with some facts please.

I am a PTA member and I object to the use of the PTA name to defeat a proposal, based on some fabricated scenario of a villainous group trying to take over the district. This is a NY POST style tabloid tactic. I expect better from the PTA.

We need more Board members to protect the integrity of the Board. Seven and nine member school boards are commonplace these days. We also need term limits. Look around at other districts, and corporations, as well. An expanded Board dilutes the power of each individual and creates more debate and review of issues being voted on. Also, it's easier for special interests to gain control over a small board versus a larger one.  

I think the motivations to be questioned are those of the PTA council. They owe the community an explanation, and an apology.

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