The letter to the editor entitled "Teacher Contracts" that appeared in the Aug. 12 Manhasset Press is yet another example of misinformed, inflammatory teacher bashing.

The Manhasset administration, the CAC sub-committee on teacher contract analysis and the board of education itself has time and again dismissed the contention that the teachers have a "sweetheart contract." Their analysis found that the teacher's contract in Manhasset was in line with other Long Island school districts.

Quoting from an Aug. 8 article in Newsday, the same Manhasset Press letter writer points out how his school taxes increased from $320 in 1957 to $8,310 in 2004. What is not included in the article, however, is that according to the Dow Jones Real Estate Index, the average sale price of a home in Manhasset through June 2004 was $1,178,918, almost a 20 percent increase over the previous year. What was the average Manhasset home worth in 1957?

Some would like to compare Manhasset's pay and working conditions to New York City, and not other neighboring districts. Negotiations experts have observed the negative effects of this type of thinking, especially when the resulting contract does not adequately attract and retain its professionals. We expect that Manhasset's highly qualified counsel has discussed this with the board of education. Perhaps for some, comparing Manhasset to NYC is appropriate since cutting costs is their primary objective and creating a discount, mediocre school system would be an acceptable consequence. Most of the residents who were attracted to Manhasset because of its outstanding school system would certainly not agree.

The bottom line is that it is the teachers who have contributed to making the Manhasset schools among the best in the nation. Our hope is that the current board of education does not sit by and allow misinformation and distorted facts to go unanswered publicly. The board must not allow fear and rhetoric to guide them during negotiations. Manhasset teachers deserve better than that.

Manhasset Education Association