At its April 18 meeting, Manhasset's five-member board of education unanimously adopted the proposed budget for the 2002-2003 school year.

Janet McCauley, assistant superintendent for business, emphasized that the superintendent's budget proposal maintains the program excellence for which the district is known, and offers some new programming for the students.

This school year has brought many challenges to the community-among which include the late arrival of state funding, a deficit state budget, and economic and financial uncertainty.

The budget totals $58,009,149 an increase of $3,698,729, or 6.81 percent over the current school year. Ms. McCauley explained that a number of factors were addressed in the budget development: costs associated with contractual agreements; increased funding for an on-going maintenance plan; a 12 percent decrease in state aid, state and federal mandates required of the district especially in the areas of special education, attendance, student assessments and intervention services, lower revenue and interest income, and increased insurance and energy costs.

In anticipation of the economic outlook, the district took steps in February to plan for next year by freezing discretionary spending in areas such as travel conferences, repair projects and overtime. Other economies will be realized through close review of enrollment and staffing needs associated with the secondary school class scheduling. In personnel, salaries and benefits cost savings will be realized through employee attrition and retirements. The district's curriculum cycle review and five-year plans in technology and facilities will more accurately provide long-range cost projections. District participation in a pilot program for a student management software will also result in more savings.

New programs and related staffing areas included in the budget are:

7th Grade Chorus. (This added section will be offset by the deletion of one section of General Music.)

Special Education Self-Contained Class for Grade 8. (A continuation of the 7th grade class initiated in 2001-02.)

Implementation of French 3-1 Class at the High School. This class will provide additional reinforcement and modified pace for students enabling them to succeed on the Regents examination.

Advanced Placement Statistics (an optional offering for students in lieu of AP Calculus) and Advanced Placement Economics. With the addition of these two classes, the total number of AP courses offered in the high school curriculum will be 15.

Elementary Spanish Program. Foreign Language instruction for Munsey Park and Shelter Rock Elementary School students will expand into grade three.

Special Education Self-Contained Class, Grades 3-5. This is a continuation of the current K-2 class as students move to the upper elementary level.

District Coordinators, K-12. District Coordinators for social science and science will have expanded responsibilities to include grades K through 12. This change will promote further articulation at all levels, continuity of instruction, focused staff development efforts and additional resources for the elementary program.

Purchase of New Student Management/Database System. A new computerized system will provide for recording, organizing, storing and analyzing all student records such as registration, scheduling, test scores, academic achievement and transcripts. This system also has the potential for more efficient scheduling, parent access and data mining. Manhasset is one of 10 school districts participating in the purchase of this pilot database system.

For the 2002-03 school year, $600,000 is included in the budget for capital projects, an increase of $350,000 over the 2001-02 year. Projects will include replacement, enhancement and upgrade of district-wide clock systems, public address systems and the telephone system. As our oldest school building, the secondary school is in need of more attention and maintenance. To this end the secondary school electrical system will be upgraded.

The annual school budget vote and election of one board of education member will be held on Tuesday, May 21, from 6:30 a.m. - 10 p.m. at the Manhasset High School Gymnasium.

As required by law, a Public Hearing on the budget is scheduled for Tuesday, May 9 at 8 p.m. in the High School Board Room. The hearing will be held as part of a regularly scheduled board meeting.