No Ordinary Summer Rental

Has no member of the Amagansett School Board ever heard that a school district has an obligation to its taxpayers to lease its grounds or buildings, where appropriate, to the highest bidder, just as it awards its building contracts to the lowest?

The principle is the same: to keep the tax rate down.

Last week, in agreeing to rent the district's south-of-the-highway house on Miankoma Lane for $10,000 for the months of July and August, the School Board lost sight of its mandate. The two-bedroom ranch-style residence may not be much to look at as Hamptons houses go, but its location, within easy walking distance of shops, beaches, the railroad station, tennis, even the Post Office - makes it highly desirable as a summer retreat.

The district paid $275,000 for the house in 1990, top dollar at a time when a serious recession was well under way. Many residents thought the price outrageous, but the proposal passed in a 140-to-89 vote held in mid-February (absentee balloting was not allowed). A further $25,000 then went for renovations.

Amagansett taxpayers were entitled to expect a better return on their investment this summer, the first time the district has leased the house to anyone other than its School Superintendent. Instead, the board, without advertising and with few people even aware the place was available, accepted a low offer from a young local couple whom several board members know personally.

In explaining the decision, members cited among other things the concerns of some parents about the proximity of a "stranger" living next to schoolchildren.

"Since we don't have our act totally together in terms of policy, maybe it's best to take the money and run with someone we know," said Patrick Bistrian Jr., who is vacating his seat in June after 30 years on the board.

It is too late now to rescind the lease, but it is not too late for Amagansett School District residents to make known their opinions of this questionable transaction, if for no other reason than to insure that nothing of the sort happens again next summer.