Garden City school board members adopted a carefully pruned school budget during last Tuesday's board of education meeting. Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Steven Leitman, briefly discussed what he called the second revision of the proposal before board members unanimously favored it April 24.

Board members had directed the administration to scrutinize the proposal carefully and make every effort to reduce costs during the April 2 board meeting. The original proposal totaled $62, 068,484. Dr. Leitman, along with other members of the administration, heeded the board's recommendation to make fiscally prudent choices while keeping students' educational needs in mind. The original proposal revealed back in March would have produced a 13.06 percent tax hike.

After careful consideration, the administration cut $1,033,808 out of the budget, reducing it to $61,034,676. Dr. Leitman discussed reasons why a portion of the proposed cuts had to go back for revision and ultimately, why the administration opted to reinstate $253,000 of the original reduction.

"We're asking that we put $40,000 back in the budget for research and development - for staff and curriculum development and special projects. For example, if we were to do some strategic, long-term planning, if we were to do anything in the area of staff development and we needed money above and beyond what the curriculum office has, we would have money available to bring in consultants, money to pay our own staff to conduct these kinds of workshops and so forth," Dr. Leitman said.

In addition, the administration proposed to reinstate $180,000 to hire additional teachers. Dr. Leitman said enrollment is projected to increase by 172 students.

"We're also making a recommendation to add three new teachers at the middle school and high school," he said. "There are a large number of sections that are needed. Between the middle school and the high school,there's a need for a science and social studies teacher but if we opted to hire them only part-time, in today's market, they'd leave to find full-time positions."

Dr. Leitman said the administration chose to hire full-time positions to use the extra period to open the writing center for a full day, as discussed late last month. The center will be open every period of the day at the high school. Currently, students can use the center only five periods per school day.

The remaining $23,000 is for health insurance and staff benefits that results from the hiring of these additional teachers, Dr. Leitman said. The final figures total $61,287,676; $45.34 per $100 of assessed valuation; and a 11.64 percent increased tax rate.

Despite the several reductions and additions, residents in attendance appeared in favor of the final proposal, including Maureen Cornacchia, first vice president, Parent Teacher Association PTA.

"We understand that at times the budget increases, the board needs to take a firm stand and that reductions need to be made. In addition to the responsibility you have to this school district, you also have a fiscal responsibility to the community," Cornacchia said. "To be successful, our children need the building blocks of knowledge at their disposal. We as parents and voters want to see the educational programs expanded.

"We support the idea of research initiatives in the curriculum and staff development to help make our staff and teachers the best they can be. The PTA is well aware the next few years will continue to be difficult for our school district because of the ongoing building construction. We trust that the school board and administration recognize the education of our children as the highest priority. We're disappointed some of the cuts had to be made but understand the reality of compromise. Therefore, the PTA executive committee supports the budget you just adopted and will encourage all of our members to vote 'yes' for the budget."

The board of education will hold a public hearing Monday, May 7, to discuss the expenditure of funds and the budgeting thereof for the 2001-02 fiscal year. Copies of the proposed budget are available at each school within the district between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Garden City residents will officially pass or decline the proposed budget Tuesday, May 15 between 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. in the Garden City High School gym.