I am no longer going to remain quiet when lies and distortions are written about me. In a Sunday New York Times editorial, "Hisses for Dr. Tassone," it appears that once again Paul Vitello is writing in his critical fashion using mistaken facts and information. First, I did not systematically "plunder" the Roslyn schools. Secondly, if he would have listened, I pleaded guilty to taking $1.1 million not $2 million; much of those monies were spent on school expenses yet to be reviewed by the district attorney.

To say that I was "wrapped ... in gauze of self-pity and euphemism" is insensitive and mean spirited. My last year has been quite painful; I lost my job, reputation, career and licenses and I am receiving a prison sentence of four to 12 years. I don't believe for a minute that "hapless pot smokers have done more hard time than that." I know of drug dealers and child molesters who have served far less time.

My "lush life" you write about included 14-hour days for many years while I moved the district forward and met the many goals of the board of education. The "stolen meals" you write about include breakfasts, lunches and sometimes dinners away from my family with representatives of the NAACP, Susan Cheever, the high school guidance department, the board of education, Matthew Shepherd's parents and other guest speakers I brought to Roslyn. I had no luxury car loans but was given a car allowance toward my car and the vacations you write about were in most cases speaking engagements or trips to the Harrow School in Great Britain with whom we had a faculty exchange program, the only public school system in the country.

I hope the hard working mothers and fathers in Roslyn also remember how much the schools improved as a result of my leadership. Their real estate has increased like nowhere else in the country primarily because of the schools. The student population increased by 33 percent during my 12 years in the district. In fact, Mr. Vitello, you and your family have benefited from my hard work.

In every article you have written about me, whether it is in Newsday or The New York Times, you have used inflammatory words such as "plunder, hisses, looted, and dissonant."

I am not a danger to society; drug dealers and rapists are. I was given erroneous advice by the auditor and the assistant superintendent for business. And I never made $1,000-a-day cash withdrawals. So, in the future, Mr. Vitello, get your facts straight before you condemn a person so vituperatively.

Dr. Frank Tassone