As her 6-year-old prepares to enter kindergarten at Mercer Elementary School in the fall, Denise Gabany is gearing herself up to deal with all the emotions a mother goes through as her firstborn goes off to school.

She wonders if her child will choose friends that are a positive influence, or get off at the right bus stop, or get along with the teacher.

She didn't think she'd have to worry about strangers coming into the school asking for her child's name and address.

But the Pennsylvania Right To Know Act may allow anyone to ask schools for directory information about students, including names, addresses, phone numbers and birth dates.

That's exactly what an East Lackawannock Township man and Mercer Area School District board candidate has done.

Eldon N. Watson III, 48, of 1256 Mercer-New Wilmington Road, asked the district to provide the names and addresses of all kindergartners registered for 2003-04.

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