Cuts proposed for staffing and foreign language
Hard decisions are once again part of the equation for the Garden City School Board in regard to the proposed budget for the 2014-15 school year despite the fact that this year’s tax levy cap is expected to be 1.58 percent versus last year’s 3.91 percent. Monetarily, the proposed budget amount is slated to be $109,280,138, a $1,677,772 increase over the 2013-14 adopted budget of $107,602,366. These were among the many numbers discussed at the board of education work session that was moderated by Superintendent Dr. Robert Feirsen and the Garden City Board of Education on Tuesday, March 4.
This first portion of a two-part meeting on the instructional budget, (the second was scheduled for Tuesday, March 11), focused on a number of cuts that include the potential elimination of F.L.E.S. (Foreign Language in Elementary School) classes.
With this third budget session — the first of two focused on the instructional budget with more slated for the Tuesday, March 11 meeting — the focus this particular evening dealt with proposed cuts to staff and certain programs. Feirsen pointed out that looking hard at the former can result in significant financial savings.
“Education is a labor-intensive enterprise and controlling expenditures for personnel has the greatest impact on the budget,” he said.
Among the positions proposed to be eliminated include that of Music and Art Coordinator Dr. Nina Prasso and a reduction in nurses and teacher aides, so each elementary school will have one of each. This ironically comes in the wake of numerous prestigious arts accomplishments including the district being named a Grammy Signature Schools semi-finalist for the third consecutive year, 73 students being chosen to participate in the All-County Music Festival and five others being selected as 2013 All-State musicians. Board of Education President Barbara Trapasso, questioned whether combining other coordinator positions in perhaps social studies and English might be an alternative. Fiersen discussed the complexities preventing that.
“We looked at all possibilities and felt the program that would suffer the least would be music and art,” he explained. “Our experience has been that by combining subjects, neither one ends up being done well. It’s a suggestion we make with a heavy heart.”
During her portion of the evening’s presentation, District Assistant Superintendent for Business Dana DiCapua walked attendees through the year-to-year savings to be found in this proposed budget to academic program supervision (12.5 percent) and regular day school (3.15), which includes textbooks, substitutes and teacher salaries,
But it was mention of eliminating a health practitioner in each of the elementary schools that garnered one of the biggest reactions from the parents in attendance.
“There are a huge number of children in both buildings that need extra attention,” pointed out parent Susan Walsh.
“There may be only 650 kids in [Stewart] but there’s close to 12,000 visits to the nurse’s office per year, and I’m sure it’s similar at Stratford too,” said Liz Mengis. “When people are coming and going with little kids – some who need a diabetic shot – I’m concerned if only one nurse is present.”
The mention of increased class size also came up during the presentation. According to Assistant Superintendent for Personnel Dr. Fino Celano, the normal maximum Garden City Schools class size of 25 students could go up to 26 students in each of the five second-grade classes at Stewart Elementary. Stratford Elementary’s third grade would have five sections with an average of 26, but one section would have 27 students while its fifth grade would have three sections; three with 25 students and three with 26 students.
The proposed elimination of F.L.E.S. would take the two class periods per week and transform them into homeroom time for the elementary grade teachers. Both parents and Trapasso made a passionate defense of F.L.E.S.
“I’m troubled and saddened about the changes that have to be made to our program,” said the board of education president. “I was on the board when F.L.E.S. started and it’s a program that’s near and dear to my heart.”
“If a child begins to learn a foreign language at an earlier age they will be more self-confident. They will be willing to learn other languages, and they may even be better in subjects like math because of practicing cognitive skills, as their brains develop in a certain way,” said second-grade parent Frances Mingoia. “Once F.L.E.S. is eliminated, chances of it coming back are very slim.”
