Before the Hicksville area was set to be sprayed for mosquitos, I called Dr. Finn's office at the Hicksville School District and asked what was going to be done about the cleanup at our playgrounds.

I was told a crew would be dispatched the next day to clean all playground equipment.That was fine with me because that was the recommendation of the Nassau Health Dept. when I called them.

A week after the spraying I was informed by other concerned parents at Lee Avenue School, that there was no cleanup. Dr. Finn had decided the prior rainfall was sufficient enough as a cleaning agent. I was extremely upset because for one whole week my son played at the playground, and then ate his lunch.

I again phoned the Nassau Health Dept. and was told the rainfall should have been sufficient, but soapy water was recommended. Any kind of pesticides are scary especially here on Long Island where cancer rates are so high.

Why couldn't our school district go the extra step and properly clean our children's playground equipment? Will we hear five years from now that the pesticide used does cause cancer?

I called Dr. Finn's office again, regarding this topic. I felt I was being dismissed on the phone and was promised back a phone call by Dr. Finn. A week has gone by and no phone call.

It is now too late to do anything, but I would like to know why our children's health was not a concern to the Hicksville School District when the Health Dept. stated only that rainfall "should" be sufficient in cleaning pesticides. That is not a 100 percent guarantee. I hope money was not a deciding factor in Dr. Finn's decision. There is no price too high to keep one child safe.

Marie Grebe