I was not surprised when I received notice that due to state cuts to Hicksville schools, I am asked to pay an additional 5 percent this year to make up for Governor Pataki's budget. I have no problem with that because I am in hopes that our schools are improving.

But as my oldest child is entering middle school in September, I often talk to other parents regarding the middle school and high school. I find it disturbing that although everyone loves the middle school and its principal, the high school is another story. I am told that we are somehow letting children in our high school from Westbury, New Cassel and other areas who are using bogus addresses. The majority of the ninth-graders entering the high school should be the same students that attended middle school and I am told they are not.

If the students do not live in Hicksville or pay school taxes to Hicksville schools then they should not be allowed in our district. Taxpayers of Hicksville should not be asked to pay more taxes until this situation is taken care of. This is very serious.

I remember asking Dr. Finn about this a couple of years ago and he told me we have someone who goes to the train station and watches for kids who get off the train and go to the high school. If we need someone to do that, then there is a problem with administration's way of enrollment. Other districts have tight reins on their enrollment and we should be doing the same.

Many people who live here are afraid to send their children to the high school. Is it the principal? The kids? What?

Marie Grebe