Absent state school aid numbers still an issue
In an already long budget season, this public meeting was the fourth step in a comprehensive analysis and discussion of the school district’s 2015-16 proposed budget at the most recent board of education review session. Instruction was at the forefront of the discussion that focused on the areas of athletics, technology and guidance and pupil personnel services. School Superintendent Dr. Robert Feirsen gave a presentation of the budget review.
The proposed overall budget is $109,992,472 with a budget to budget increase of $585,334. The projected tax levy increase with the STAR Program is .69 percent, which is right at the New York State-imposed maximum allowable tax levy. The number is significantly lower than last year’s tax levy increase of 1.57 percent.
“The reason that the 2015-16 tax levy cap is so much lower than 2014-15 is because of the decreased capital tax levy, which includes debt service and the small increase in payment in lieu of taxes,” said Dr. Feirsen.
Feirsen noted that the current proposed budget does not provide any indication of how much state aid is proposed for Garden City.
“This has never happened before,” said Dr. Feirsen. “Instead the governor pledges to reveal specific school district aid figures only if the legislature passes the changes he proposes for teacher evaluation, raising the cap on charter schools, revising the criteria for teacher tenure and intervening in failing schools.”
The state aid numbers are not only absent in Garden City but in all of the school districts on Long Island.
Dr. Feirsen explained the impact of the Gap Elimination Adjustment (GEA) and its relation to the governor’s school aid proposal.
“The governor’s school aid proposal continues to take away from the school district funding to which it is entitled by state aid formulas,” said Feirsen. “The GEA takes money that should be going to school districts and puts it in the states own budget. The GEA has reduced the state aid Garden City actually received from New York State by $4,683,574 to this point. These funds could have been used to enhance or save programs for students.”
Other news & notes:
Technology accomplishments in 2014-15 include a new district website and a new mobile app for the parent portal. There have been new computers installed at every teacher workstation and all administrative offices and installed laptop carts for the Stewart, Stratford and the Garden City High School Science Department.
Technology initiatives for 2015-16 include replacing computers in the high school library research lab, replacing computers in the middle school technology lab and the continuation of piloting tablets and other hand held devices district wide.
Accomplishments in athletics in 2014-15 include Garden City being named a New York State School of Distinction for the ninth time and all 32 varsity teams achieving a scholastic average of 90 or better.
The field hockey team earned the title of Nassau County champions, Long Island champions and State finalists. The girls Cross Country team was named Nassau County Champions and the girls swimming team earned their 16th straight Nassau County championship.
The next board of education meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 22 at the high school at 8 p.m.
