By Stephanie Mariel Petrellese

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Feirsen presented a set of guidelines he plans to use when determining the budget for 2009-10 at the Dec. 9th work session of the Garden City Board of Education.

"In this climate, it is essential that the administration scrutinize every aspect of the budget to produce a proposal that recognizes both the challenges facing taxpayers and the district's mission and goals," he said.

Dr. Feirsen acknowledged the difficulty in trying to set a budget given today's unstable economic climate. The state is currently experiencing a serious budget deficit, and just a few weeks ago, the district was bracing for a possible mid-year cut in state aid. Although the governor has since abandoned that idea, the amount of aid to be received next year is uncertain.

When developing the budget for 2009-10, the superintendent and his staff still plan to address health and safety issues, recognize the district's overall financial health and observe legal requirements and mandates. He emphasized that program integrity and continuity will be maintained, and vowed to protect to the best extent possible the "program core," which he described as those aspects essential to the accomplishment of the district's mission and goals.

Dr. Feirsen will seek to sustain progression of courses for students who have already embarked upon a sequence. He assured parents that board guidelines regarding class size will still be observed. Section enrollments will be scrutinized carefully when staffing projections are developed.

If cuts are necessary, Dr. Feirsen said he will make certain that the budgets for all departments and programs have been reviewed thoroughly to ensure fairness. Dr. Fiersen said he and his staff will try to avoid "one-shot" remedies that will only add to future budgets.

Budget work sessions usually begin in February. The budget vote will be held on May 19.