At the Mineola School District Board of Education meeting on Thursday night, the district unveiled the first phase of its 2003-2004 budget. Preliminary figures call for a budget of $63,201,559, a 6.8 percent increase over last years budget. However, members of the board of education would like to work on lowering the increase by the time the budget goes out for a vote in May.

In trying to present a fiscally conservative and cost effective budget, the district kept in mind certain parameters when forming the budget. One parameter is a $400,000 shortfall in state aid. That shortfall will be made up through attrition. The district figures to have 12 less full-time faculty members because of attrition but will hire four more if it goes ahead with the full-day kindergarten program at the Willis Avenue School.

As a result of the attrition, the district budget is cut $883,524 from all costs related to the regular instruction program. The district also cut $323,550 from the administrative and improvement of the instruction portion of the budget. Those costs have to do with instructional supervision, test scoring, staff development, curriculum writing and site based (salaries, contractual, material and supplies).

According to the first phase of the budget process, the district so far plans on spending $715,735 less on instruction. However, it has increased the line on district operated transportation, which are all costs related to district owned transportation.

The district is currently in the process of putting together a comprehensive study on the current transportation service it offers and how it can provide a top-notch transportation service for next year.

The line in the budget for district-operated transportation will be increased by $366,826, which includes the replacement of three buses.

The 2002-2003 budget amounted to $59,177,480 while the 2003-2004 budget amounts to $63,201,559, a $4,024,069 increase from the budget that was approved last May. Of the $4,024,069 increase, $3,127,360 is coming from employee benefits such as the NYS Employee Retirement System, NYS Teachers Retirement System, Social Security, Workers' Compensation, Life Insurance, Unemployment Insurance, Disability Insurance and Health Insurance.

In addition, an increase of $910,911 from the 2002-2003 budget is for debt service. This is the first budget that reflects payments on the bond that passed in 2000.

For the second phase of the budget process, the district will look at whether it can cut costs such as overtime costs for employees. It will also look at its programs and determine if any don't fit with the district's mission and educational goals. It will also look at the pre-kindergarten program and whether its goals can be satisfied with a full-day kindergarten program.

The regular business board meeting of the Mineola Board of Education will be Thursday, March 20 at 8 p.m. in the gym of the Cross Street School, located at 6 Cross Street in Williston Park. The board will be meeting at 7:30 p.m. prior to the 8 p.m. meeting for a special workshop.