Having served nine years as a member of the Manhasset Board of Education, this year I carried out my prior promise to not seek re-election for another term. It saddens me, however, that the Manhasset Schools, after years of continuous improvement and national recognition for high student achievement, will be suffering the impact of a mandated austerity budget.

The educational needs of all our students, as well as the challenges facing Manhasset in meeting those needs, have always been my utmost priority. When I was elected to the Board of Education, my key objectives were to provide smaller class sizes for our elementary schools, which was implemented, and to effectuate a change in the District's English Language Arts philosophy, which was achieved five years ago when we shifted from a Whole Language curriculum to the current, highly successful Balanced Literacy approach. The benefits of these changes have been far reaching, and I am proud to have been part of the process that caused these changes to be made.

I believe that a community is only as successful as the school district that is responsible for teaching its children. The Manhasset School District has always been a shining example of a community's dedication to providing its children with the best academic, cultural and social experiences available. This past year, however, has been one where members of the board of education and the school administration have been besieged by vicious personal attacks, distortions, half-truths and false information that have nothing to do with providing a better education to our children, but have everything to do with advancing personal motives and agendas. I am deeply troubled that our children and their parents are the ones who will suffer as a result of these tactics.

In parting, I take this opportunity to thank Manhasset for allowing me to serve the community on the board of education. I also thank the past and present members of the board of education who showed confidence in my leadership by electing me as their vice president and president for seven of the nine years that I served.

I hope the pain of an austerity budget will be short lived and that Manhasset will return to an era of civility, thoughtfulness and a sound, principled approach to problem solving. The new Board and our community need to move forward with a renewed sense of purpose and a strong commitment to work together to meet the educational needs of our children.

After all, our children are our future.

Thank you.

Barbara Donno

President, Manhasset Board of Education