The executive board of the Manhasset SCA is writing to clear up any misconceptions about what the SCA is and should be. The SCA has always been so much more than your average parent teacher organization (PTO). While we see the value in typical PTO activities such as Family Movie Nights, giftwrap sales and boxtop redemptions, the SCA has always strived to be more and do more for our students and our schools.

Many wonderful committees target specific aspects of a child's experience at their schools such as Guess Who's Coming to Read, National Library Week and the Book Fair, all of which are designed to foster a love of reading.

Special curriculum-related enrichment programs, including dance performances, guest authors and science museum presentations, are held throughout the year thanks to a $27,000 subsidy from the SCA.

The SCA also provides a variety of programs to enrich the social life of Manhasset's children such as Saturday Series for grades K-6 with courses ranging from Karate to Chess; Children's Theater with two to three live performances per year; and Recreational Programs such as the High School Homecoming Dance and Middle School Halloween party.

Elementary school Character Education programs are run by SCA volunteers with lessons that pertain to communication, friendship, problem solving/conflict resolution and respect for others and self. And $10,000 is allocated for the High School/Middle School Speaker's Bureau to provide inspirational speakers and motivational presentations to educate, support, empower and enrich the lives of Manhasset Secondary School students.

The SCA distributes $10,000 for Summer Studies awards to High School juniors to explore individual areas of interest; $20,000 for college grants for graduating seniors who need financial aid in order to make their college dreams come true; and $10,000 for student assistance to ensure that every child has an equal opportunity to participate in all events.

In addition, the SCA made gifts in excess of $125,000 to the elementary schools, the middle school and high school between 2005-2007. These include the replacement of all chairs in the Black Box Theater, installation of an air conditioning unit in the HS chorus room, new maps for social studies classrooms, advanced graphing calculators for our math students, a new automatic tennis server, soundproofing of the elementary school cafeterias, a telescope and solar adaptor for our K-12 science program and much, much more.

In short, for those who feel that we spend an inordinate amount of time and money on "politics," we can assure you that our focus and our money has always been on the schoolchildren.

But, for the record, the SCA believes that every penny spent on community education is well spent if it means that more residents are registered to vote and more registered voters go to the polls better armed to make an informed decision. In the end, the school budget and the school children are not mutually exclusive and we are proud of our efforts to get out the vote for this most important election.

Mimi Donohue, Executive SCA President

Lynne Aloia, High School SCA President

Sandy Demitroff, Middle School SCA President

Johnna Lombard, Shelter Rock SCA President

Ellen Duran, Munsey Park SCA President

Arlene Blocker, Secretary

Jill McCarney, Treasurer