We are a community of parents that live in Norgate and have lived here for as many as 33 years. We all have or have had children in the Manhasset school system and have happily volunteered hundreds of hours to the SCA as well as served as class parents and frolic chairpersons. In past budget votes we have consistently been in favor of additional funds for the expansion and improvement of our school. We have always been very proud of the Manhasset school system and believe in maintaining its high standard of excellence.

We are asking for your help now. On Oct. 4, there are two propositions being presented by the board of education for the residents of Manhasset to vote upon. We feel strongly that Proposition Two would impact unfavorably upon our neighborhood community of Norgate.

Proposition One asks to allow the board to spend $750,000 of the Capital Reserve Fund to restructure an already existing but unused space in the auditorium at Munsey Park Elementary School to create more classroom space. It appears to be a well-thought out proposal and we intend to vote in favor of this proposition.

Proposition Two, on the other hand, asks to allow the board to spend $700,000 to purchase a residential home that borders the school property at 86 Memorial Place. This home has always been a part of our community. The school board has said that, because the opportunity came up unexpectedly, they have no definite plan as to how they would utilize this property. They have suggested possibly an administrative office building or use of the property for some "athletic purpose."

The ultimate purpose of the purchase is to create more classroom space in the middle and high schools, which of course we support, but we strongly believe that this is not the solution to that problem. The board has yet to address the available space within the footprint of the campus. The bus garage on the high school campus has become available since the buses will be kept off campus. This garage has 9,000 square feet of space, versus the 2,000 square feet of space from the 86 Memorial Place lot. There will be a cost for the reconstruction of the garage, but the $700,000 purchase price of the property does not include the demolition of the house and the possible construction of a new building or facilities. The board would be paying $700,000 for the purchase of a small lot of land when the school already owns sufficient land for any proposed expansion.

There are other reasons we are asking you to vote no on Proposition 2. We have a neighborhood. It includes tennis courts and Memorial field. It has the happy sound of kids playing after school and the quiet of the field in the evening. By allowing the board to let the school property encroach upon our neighborhood, change its borders, change its footprint, you would be changing the character of our neighborhood. Where there once was a small home, could, in the future, stand an office building. It would be attached to the backyard of one of our good neighbors who have lived in their home for over 33 years. The father of that family serves on the board of trustees of the Manhasset Library and was instrumental in getting the new library erected. He is truly an example of the community service that has been given by many other members of the Norgate community. He deserves to have his backyard looked upon by another backyard of another family, rather than live with the unknown of the school board's plan. At the meeting of Sept. 14, the board admitted that, if given the opportunity, they might consider purchasing other properties from our or other neighborhoods. Think about how that may affect us or even your neighborhoods!

We are all a part of the same community. Individually, we have all tried in our own way to better and to support the town and school of Manhasset. We now ask the community return that support. We urge you to vote no on Proposition 2 on Oct. 4. Thank you.

Norgate Community Members: Anne Marie Stack, Rick Stack, Laura Bruno, Dr. Robert Bruno, Pamela Can, Erdal Can, Maureen Caggiano, Chris Avanzino, Jill Diaz, Tony Diaz, Clare Governale, Colleen Mansfield, Cherri Mitsinikos, June Sutter, Monica Zenobio, Jim Murray, Maggie Murray