I read with great interest the letter in this week's paper about our superintendent of schools' raise in salary. Nineteen percent does seem excessive in today's economy. However, I have several questions. First, what is the superintendent's salary? Second, was the raise to make it competitive in today's market with other superior communities? Example: Great Neck, Syosset, Jericho?

If this raise was needed to keep our present superintendent, who I understand is most superior, I am all for it. Manhasset has had a big turnover in superintendents. I believed that we need more continuity than we have had. If I were to count the number of superintendents we have had in the 33 years I have lived in Manhasset, I'm sure the number would be great. My question is, "why?"

Please know that I am a strong supporter of good public school education and from my experience Manhasset is a superior public school system. I was in public school service for 43 years, not in Manhasset, but in a neighboring very superior school system, and I believe I am a good judge of what is, and what is not, good education. I have been retired for 23 years so I am on a very fixed low income. However, I have voted "no" only once on the school budget. (It was the year that I thought central administration should have been cut.)

I have a godchild who went all through the Manhasset Public Schools from kindergarten through senior high school. Her parents and I were very pleased with her program, as well as with the many extracurricular experiences to which she was exposed. She, herself has said many times how very prepared she was for higher education. (She just received her two master's in public health from Columbia University). Presently I have nephews in first grade in our schools and I am very interested in their progress which I follow with great interest.

I conclude my remarks by saying that I believe we should get all the facts before we are critical of our board of education.

Grace A. Warner

As a result of the Department of Justice lawsuit regarding the replacement of New York State's lever-type voting machines, local Elections Commissioners have until Feb. 8 to choose whether to use a paper ballot-based ballot marker and scanner system, or a direct recording electronic voting system (DRE) for each county.

The League of Women Voters asks concerned citizens to contact their local county legislators and the Nassau County Board of Elections and join in their efforts urging that a decision on new voting machines be made in favor of the paper-based optical scan system, to be used by disabled voters in 2008 and for the long-term replacement of all voting machines as well. Optical scan machines have been shown to be more reliable and less expensive than the DRE, or touch screen voting systems.

Carole Goldfarb, President

League of Women Voters of East Nassau

Now that the holidays are over and warm weather is around the corner, it is time to look ahead to spring and the SCA Fair. Attic Treasures, Sports and Garden, and Toys, which have been a tradition of our fair, will be eliminated unless we can obtain additional volunteers to chair these areas.

We have formed a committee and are campaigning to recruit for: Drop Off day, Saturday, April 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Set-Up day, Friday, May 2 at 9 a.m.; and all day Fair Day, Saturday, May 3. Some success has been attained, however, it is not enough to make this a go. Key people are still needed to continue this tradition.

It is our belief that the fair should be more than just games and rides. It should continue to offer something for everyone even if it's just an "attic treasure."

Please join us in volunteering to save these three areas. With your help, we can continue the tradition and help to raise considerable funds for the SCA. Thank you. Please feel free to contact us.

The Committee to Save Attic Treasures

Claudia Marra Garbus

DeClaudeM@msn.com

Lisbeth Shibley

shibley3@hotmail.com

Lisa Boukas

LAB4tennis@aol.com