2007-08 School Budget Proposal Up 6.83%

The Garden City Board of Education discussed the proposed 2007-08 budget during its regular monthly meeting on Monday night. The proposed $91,207,120 budget contains an increase of 6.83% over last year, although the number may change as the final details off the budget are ironed out. According to the school district, the final tax levy increase will be about 6.84%, although individual homeowners tax bills can vary depending on changes in assessments.

Monday night's meeting focused on special education services, guidance services, technology and athletics.

Special Education

The school district proposes hiring an additional seven special education teachers throughout the district. This is in part because of a projected increase in special ed enrollment, but also because some class sections have reached their capacity.

The school district plans to continue major initiatives in the special ed area including working on pre-vocational programs for students, staff development training for a variety of conditions, and acceptance of tuition paying students from other districts in certain special ed areas to help reduce taxpayer costs.

Guidance

The guidance department will continue to emphasize placing students in the most challenging courses available, and in working on the transition from middle school to high school. It was noted that guidance counselors are helping to fill out an ever increasing number of college applications as the trend is for students to apply to many schools. Counselor staffing levels will remain the same, but an extra part time secretary is being sought.

Technology

The Technology Department is responsible for maintaining hardware and software throughout the school district including a database for student information. The department will be moving that data to a new database during the next year, as well as improving networks and servers throughout the district.

Athletics

The athletic department proposes hiring two new assistant coaches at the high school, in girls winter track and girls varsity golf, both of which had large turnouts this year. (Coaches are paid stipends, not full salaries.) Additionally, four new coaching positions are being sought for the middle school winter sports.