Superintendent Dr. Stephen Leitman presented adjustments made to the proposed 2005/2006 budget at the April 11th Garden City Board of Education work session. The Board will vote on the budget on April 20.

Six positions will be added in the fall: a high school guidance counselor, high school physical education teacher, two high school science teachers, a middle school foreign language teacher and an elementary school foreign language teacher.

Dr. Marylou McDermott, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, explained that the foreign language curriculum at the elementary school level will be built around what is actually going on in the classroom. The program will enable students to develop a sense for a foreign language. The two new science teachers at the high school will allow students to pursue science research projects and have more elective choices.

Dr. Leitman announced that changes will be made in the administrative structure for curriculum development at the Middle and High School levels over the next few weeks. Currently some of the chairpeople are members of the teacher's union, which can pose a conflict of interest. It is expected that the district will change from a music department chair to a chair of performing arts and will name a chair of fine arts and technology. "We look forward to this being an improvement in our district and certainly an improvement for our educational program," said Leitman.

PTA President Maureen Cornacchia thanked the Board and administrators for their work on the budget. "We believe the Board and administration are sincere in their goal of having Garden City continue as a high-performing school system," she said.

In other news, School Board President Kenneth Monaghan acknowledged the recent death of Joseph J. Cadigan, who served as the first principal of Stewart Manor Elementary School and later as director of the adult education program. Monaghan said he was well-known among staff members. Cadigan, a resident of Garden City for 55 years, died on March 7th at the age of 84.