New York State Education Commissioner King has annulled the lease of Hillcrest Elementary School to Congregation Yeshiva Avir Yakov of New Square, saying that �I cannot find, on this record, that the Board took reasonable steps to ensure that it was getting the best deal possible,� the Rockland County Times reports.

The current lease agreement allows a New Square yeshiva to pay a fraction of the market-value cost to the city for use of the Hillcrest Elementary School.

The commissioner upheld a petition filed by Robert Forest, a School board candidate, who cited the leasing agreement of a comparable school building in Ramapo at the cost of $760,000 as opposed to the $252,000 currently being paid by Congregation Yeshiva Avir Yakov.

Commissioner King also ordered that �prior to disposing of school district property by either sale or lease, the Board take all steps necessary to ensure that it makes a reasonably informed decision, and obtains the best deal possible, including taking any and all reasonable steps to assess the property�s fair market value or fair market rental value.�