Barbara Donno, president of the Manhasset Board of Education, has announced her candidacy for reelection to another term. Mrs. Donno, a member of the board since 1995, has resided in Manhasset since 1982.

A former elementary school teacher, she earned a bachelor of science degree from Duquesne University with a master's degree in education from Hofstra University. Prior to her election to the school board, Mrs. Donno was active in the School Community Association (SCA) and several citizens' advisory committees appointed by the board.

During her term on the school board, Mrs. Donno has served as liaison to the SCA Executive Board, the Manhasset Athletic Advisory Committee, the Finance Committee, the Summer Center Committee, the Substance Abuse Task Force and the project S.A.V.E./Code of Conduct Committee. Among her accomplishments, she has taken great pride in having succeeded in achieving a reduction in class sizes in the elementary schools. In addition, Barbara Donno has been an active advocate for improvements in the language arts curriculum and in special education programs. She is currently working with the administration on a resolution to the problems of inadequate athletic fields and has been a supporter of long-range planning. According to Mrs. Donno, "Communications between and among the school board, the administration and the community are of critical importance to the achievement of continued educational excellence. As president of the board, I have tried to place an emphasis upon improving communications and community relations."

With regard to the future, Mrs. Donno said, "Over the past several years the Manhasset Schools have undergone changes that have brought us to the threshold of unprecedented opportunities for success. I see these as works-in-progress and I would consider it a privilege to be entrusted with the opportunity to help bring them to fruition."

Mrs. Donno and her husband, Rob, have two children, both of whom attended Shelter Rock Elementary School and Manhasset Middle School. Jackie, who is a junior at Syracuse University, graduated from Manhasset High School and Matt is presently a junior at Manhasset High School.

Reuben Cohen has lived in Manhasset with his wife, Jean, since 1987. Their son, Jesse, is a Manhasset High sophomore who attended Shelter Rock and Manhasset Middle Schools.

An 11-year member of the CAC for School Finance, Reuben has served as its chair for the past 8. He co-chaired the CAC for Facilities in 1995.

Reuben and Jean are contributors to the Booster Club, the Drama Booster Club, the SCA, and the Manhasset Student Aid Association. They are also supporters of the Manhasset Community Fund and the Friends of the Library. Reuben's wife served as Shelter Rock Parent Council President. Their son is an active participant in the arts and the interscholastic athletic programs at MHS.

Underscoring his concern for kids, a few years ago Reuben initiated and secured funding for various summer camp programs for disadvantaged children.

In seeking a school board seat, Reuben says "I care about all our kids, top-rate education, serving our community and fiscal discipline." He believes his "longstanding familiarity with the district, a collaborative approach to working with others, and a concern about the opinions and needs of all Manhasset residents" positions him to be a successful school board member.

Reuben acknowledges the benefits of increased state-mandated testing, but wonders whether they may come at the expense of enriched and creative curriculum programs such as ours or at the expense of children for whom such testing may not be appropriate. Curriculum consistency, language arts review, accountability and teen social concerns are some of the other current district issues he is interested in getting to know more about.

From a financial perspective, Reuben says that "I have been an advocate for incorporating multi-year planning into our annual budget process and for consistent and adequate capital spending to ensure future bond issues aren't required to pay for deferred maintenance."

Reuben and his family are members of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock, where he currently chairs the Stewardship Committee.

He is a 1970 graduate of Great Neck North, where he was elected to serve as one of the first student delegates to the board of education.

After receiving his undergraduate degree at Brown University and an MBA from the Wharton School, his career took him to Chicago and London before returning to New York to join Bankers Trust. Currently, he is a managing director and head of the fixed income group at Putnam Lovell Securities, a specialized investment bank.

Michelle Impellizeri is running as a candidate for one of the two open seats on the Manhasset Board of Education. She holds a master's in education from St. John's University and is currently employed by the Oyster Bay-East Norwich School District.

For the past nine years, she has been an active volunteer in the Manhasset Public Schools. Some of the positions she has held are grade level chair, class mother, Project Self Esteem volunteer, CCD teacher and SCA luncheon prize coordinator. Michelle has also been a member of the principal's hiring committee for Shelter Rock, co-chaired both the SCA Fair and the Fall Festival.

Ms. Impellizeri, 39, has been married to her husband, Neal, for 17 years. They are the parents of three sons and a daughter. Marie, the eldest is in ninth grade, Anthony in seventh and Michael in fifth grade.

Michelle says she is running for the school board because she believes in the excellence of the Manhasset School District and wants to see it continue.