I am writing this letter to thank all those who supported me during my recent bid for a trustee seat to the Hicksville Board of Education. Your encouragement along the way, and your kind words after the election meant a lot and will always be remembered. I would also like to thank Richard Pfaender, president of the board of education, for his kind words the night of June 3 - I do appreciate the sentiment.

Yes, it is disappointing to be on the "losing" end, but I feel that the race was definitely worth it - and it was a respectable race from all parties. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate both Pat Love and Gus Costa, for their nominations to the board. I hope that your next three years are filled with much success and appreciation from the community.

As we come to the end of another school year, I hope that all of us remember how important staying involved and informed about our district is. Whether or not you have children in school, the quality of education here in Hicksville, and the reputation of our district as a whole impacts all of us. Hopefully, people will come to fill the seats at board meetings during the upcoming school year. Remember that the board members are not mind readers - they need to be kept informed by those they represent as to concerns, questions, etc., in order to be truly effective.

Dolores Garger

I was stunned to see full-page ads from the Hicksville Teachers' Union (HCT) supporting Gus Costa, a candidate for the school board in last week's local papers. Since this was done openly, I assume it is legal for them to do so. However, it seems to me that it is clearly a conflict of interest for a school board member to benefit financially from a school district union during his campaign, and then have the power to vote on pay raises and benefits for the members of the teachers' union.

As many will remember, the last time the teachers' union supported candidates for the school board, the teachers received a 30 percent salary increase shortly afterward, which resulted in soaring property taxes and put the community in an uproar.

I hope new school board member Gus Costa, who benefited from thousands of dollars of support from the HCT, will do the honorable thing and abstain from voting on issues that would financially benefit the teachers' union. If he does not, how can we be sure that he is representing the taxpayers of Hicksville and not the HCT, which bought and paid for his board seat?

Diana D'Antuono DePalma