On June 3, the voters of Hicksville will have the chance to vote for school board trustees. During these rough fiscal times, we need experienced and well-seasoned people to sit on the board.

I urge you to vote and I urge you to vote for Pat Love and Peggy Theis. Both have the experience and knowledge that Hicksville needs. Together they have a combined track record of over 30 years of experience and dedication to this district. Their accomplishments span from the implementing of all-day kindergarten to new science labs in the high school to the reopening of the East Street School.

Please vote for Pat Love (1A) and Peggy Theis (3B) for school board trustees on June 3.

Joe Visconti

Anyone who has ever served on the board of education will tell you that nothing can prepare you for what to expect after you're elected. The long hours, countless amounts of reading material, questions regarding budgets, school law, practices and policies could make a person's head spin. There's so much to learn and so much to remember that at the end of my three-year term I was still asking questions. Regardless of how many committees or general meetings you may have attended as an audience member, once you're in that seat, it's a whole new ballgame.

I write this letter to ask for your support in re-electing Pat Love and Peggy Theis to the board of education at next Tuesday's election. I have had the honor (and I mean that sincerely) to serve with both of them during my three-year tenure and was always amazed at the amount of knowledge they possess about our school district. Any question I may have had regarding finances, policies, curriculum and many legal matters were answered by my very knowledgeable and very experienced fellow board members. I realize that my questions held up many discussions during some already long executive sessions, but at least I had the good fortune of sharing the board with seasoned trustees. They patiently answered my questions and explained situations to me, and their many varies opinions helped me reach the decisions needed to vote my conscience.

Without Pat Love and Peggy Theis on the board, Hicksville would have only one board member, President Richard Pfaender, who has more than two years' experience regarding matters of the district. Now is certainly not the time to "break-in" any brand new board members. In these uncertain times when Governor Pataki is showing total disregard for our children and our educational system, we need continuity; we need to know that our board of education can literally "hit the ground running" on July 1 when the incoming board is supposed to take over.

Give our children a fighting chance. Make sure that people who are on the board are spending their time fighting for them, not getting acquainted with rules and regulations. Re-elect Pat Love and Peggy Theis.

Diana D. DePalma

For over 20 years, Pat Love and Peggy Theis have worked tirelessly for the improvement of education in the community of Hicksville. Thanks to their efforts, Hicksville Schools have state of the art science labs, Regents extra help classes, safe and secure school buildings, new reading, math, social studies and science curriculum, expanded technology programs and improved student performance. They worked to create the nine-period day at the high school, have supported advanced placement and honors courses, remedial programs for at risk students and a strong fine arts program.

Pat and Peggy fought to re-open East Street School when some members of the community wanted to put our students in trailers, and were leaders in bringing All-Day Kindergarten to the Hicksville School District. Pat and Peggy have worked diligently to improve the financial standing of this district. They worked with members of the community to develop an affordable bond, which will result in major repairs and improvements to our school buildings. While Pat and Peggy want the best education possible for our students, they understand the needs and concerns of taxpayers in keeping this goal affordable for the community. Faced with school aid decreases and tax rate increases on the part of New York State and Nassau County, Pat's and Peggy's experience enabled them to suggest ways to cut expenditures without compromising educational quality and develop a budget that is both affordable and educationally enhanced.

Pat Love and Peggy Theis care about Hicksville's children, about our community and only they have the experience this district needs in facing the tough times ahead. On June 3, show your support for all Pat and Peggy have done for the Hicksville School District and all they will continue to do by voting for Pat Love (1A) and Peggy Theis (3B) for the Hicksville Board of Education and vote "yes" for the budget.

Carol Koegl