THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

Commissioner of Education E-mail: commissioner@mail.nysed.gov

President of the University of the State of New York Twitter:@JohnKingNYSED
89 Washington Avenue, Room 111 Tel: (518) 474-5844
Albany, New York 12234 Fax: (518) 473-4909



September 11, 2014


Ms. Susan Johnson
Superintendent of Schools
Hempstead Union Free School District
185 Peninsula Boulevard
Hempstead, NY 11550

Dear Superintendent Johnson:

As you are aware, on August 28, 2014, I issued a decision pursuant to Education
Law 310 in an appeal from certain actions of respondents, which included the Hempstead
Union Free School District (the district), regarding the conduct of the districts May 20,
2014 school board election. Included among the allegations against respondents were
claims of improper electioneering, fraud, and violations of Education Law.

Based on the record before me, I sustained the appeal in part, annulling the results
of the May 20, 2014 school board election as between petitioner Maribel Tour and
respondent Betty J. Cross, and ordering the district to immediately call a special district
meeting for the purpose of conducting a vote to fill the contested school board seat. I
further ordered the district to cooperate fully with any individual(s) designated by the
Commissioner to monitor and observe the conduct of such special election
(emphasis added).

Because the expertise of a law enforcement agency is necessary in this situation, I
requested that the Office of the New York State Attorney General (OAG) provide
oversight and monitoring over the district's upcoming special election. By letter dated
September 10, 2014, the OAG advised that its Civil Rights Bureau will provide oversight
and monitoring of the special election. A representative of that office will be contacting you
shortly to discuss this matter.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation in ensuring that the right of the districts
voters to participate in a fair, equitable and accessible school board election process is
safeguarded.

Sincerely,



John B. King, Jr.
Commissioner