In a community such as ours, where excellent schools are paired with high property values, the members of the school board must engage in a balancing act - balancing the need to maintain the high quality of the public schools against the burdens of school taxes on all of the residents. Incumbents Aline Khatchadourian and Larry Belinsky have done that job admirably - listening to the community, instilling fiscal responsibility with the school system and demonstrating their care for our children by carefully monitoring school expenses.

I grew up in a community that a short time ago had an excellent, highly regarded school system, the Lawrence School District. Now the schools in that district are no longer so highly regarded; now that community is divided between those who support the schools and those who send their children to private schools. Here in Manhasset, we are lucky in that we have a school board made up of talented members who work very hard and who understand the need to balance the costs of our school system against the burdens of the taxes on the residents.

I urge you to keep Aline and Larry working on the school board. On May 15, I urge you to vote to re-elect Aline Khatchadourian and Larry Belinsky.

Joseph Giovanniello Jr.

Please vote for Jack Vivinetto and Marty Dekom for the school board May 15. Both candidates are very qualified and capable of giving their individual attention to the issues at hand. They will use their expertise both in accounting and marketing to make important decisions that will benefit the entire community.

Vote May 15 for Jack and Marty.

Laura Vaeth