Concerned citizens of the Sewanhaka Central High School District voiced their opinions about a referendum regarding the new Elmont Public Library, to be built on the site of the abandoned Alva T. Stanforth (ATS) property located on Hempstead Turnpike in Elmont, at the Dec. 17 board of education meeting.

Concerns were raised regarding the November 2003 issue of Franklin Square's Cross Roads newsletter, which attempted to explain increases in the tax bills by "inaccurately blaming Elmont." This according to Margaret Murphy, a resident of Franklin Square, who addressed the school board on behalf of the referendum.

According to the newsletter, "the community of Elmont had its assessments lowered relative to Franklin Square, New Hyde Park and Floral Park" resulting in a larger proportion of the high school district taxes being paid by the latter three communities.

Margaret Murphy and a number of other residents insist these statements are unfair and may provoke hostility toward neighboring Elmont, causing residents of Franklin Square, New Hyde Park and Floral Park to vote against the referendum that will clear and rebuild part of the ATS property.

"It fails to point out that this means residents of Elmont must have been paying more than their fair share in the past," said Murphy in a statement, which she presented to board of education members. "The new tax assessment was designed for equity," she added, "and if constituents feel this has not been done, then the responsibility lies with our elected officials, not with our neighbors in Elmont."

The proposed referendum for the sale of the ATS property to Elmont for the purpose of building a new library and converting the remainder of the abandoned lot into athletic fields will benefit all four communities of the Sewanhaka Central High School District, including Floral Park.

A new non-profit organization dubbed Concerned Parents of the Sewanhaka Central High School District was created to address this issue and many others concerning parents of students in the four communities.

Its goal is to promote parent involvement in issues that affect the school district in order to assure that changes continue to benefit the students. To become involved, contact Margaret Murphy at 485-6572.