The New Hyde Park/Garden City Park School budget proposed for 2008/2009 has one of the lowest percentage increases in many years coming in at a 3.44 increase. Last year's increase was 4.34 percent.

The total proposed budget for 2008/2009 is $30,590,790. Last year's budget was $29,572,435 and that amounts to an increase to the district of $1,018,355.

Highlights of the budget to benefit the children of the school district include:

• New math textbooks-proposed for all of the schools

• After school clubs

• Part-time psychologist

• Remedial math teacher

• Special education teacher for inclusion classes

• New computers for classrooms with SMART Boards

• New computers for sixth grade and fifth grade

• Printers for classrooms that do not have computer printers

• Five SMART Boards

• Science lab classroom carts with notebook computers, science probes, microscope, and a camera

• Discovery education video for computers

• Library automation to computerize all library materials

• One computer projector for each school

• Sixty passenger bus to transport children

Highlights of the budget to benefit the community:

* • Additional surveillance cameras for the exterior of the schools

* • ConnectEd phone communication with parents for emergencies

The full budget can be seen on the district's website: www.nhp-gcp.org

The entire proposed budget breakdown for 2008-2009 is as follows:

	2007-2008	2008-2009	Increase	Percentage
Salaries/Benefits:	$22, 238,315	$22,712,200	$473,885	1.60
Equipment:	$81,030	$372,235	$291,205	0.98
Textbooks:	$233,465	$388,465	$155,000	0.52
BOCES	$591,345	$743,995	$152,650	0.52
Transportation	$964,600	$862,765	($101,835)	-0.34
Debt	$2,156, 510	$2,304,635	$148,125	0.50
Summer Spec Ed
CafŽ/Capital	$80,000	$152,440	$72,440	0.24
Special Education	$1,303,600	$1,160,425	($197,175)	-0.67
Materials/Supplies	$443 970	$429,490	($14,480)	-0.05
Contractual	$1,479,600	$1,518,140	$38,540	0.13
Total	$29,572,435	$30,590,790	$1,018,355	3.44

The New Hyde Park/Garden City Park School Board will adopt the budget at the next regular school board meeting which is set for April 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the Manor Oaks School.

The public will then have a chance to vote on the budget on May 20 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Manor Oaks School.

The public will also vote on the Hillside Public Library Budget and the Sewanhaka Central High School Budget. Figures on those budgets will be reported at a later time when they are finalized. The public will also be voting to re-elect school board trustee Patricia Rudd and another candidate to run for the seat being vacated by trustee Robert Nugent. Petitions may be obtained at the Central Administration Office at the Manor Oaks School, 1950 Hillside Avenue, New Hyde Park.