GARDEN CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2009 -10 School District

GARDEN CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2009 -10 School District Budget PTA Presentation May, 2009

Proposed overall budget: $95, 215, 587 Budget to budget increase: $709, 786 or 0. 75% Projected tax levy increase (with STAR): 1. 57% Class One tax levy increase estimate: 1. 31%

2009 -10 Proposed Budget Expenditures 3

Budget Goals • Provide the resources to accomplish district mission and goals • Maintain the excellence for which Garden City is known • Accomplish the above goals in full recognition of the challenges posed by the fiscal climate 4

Budget Drivers • No new programs are proposed for 2009 -10. Expenditure increases are driven by: – Increase in costs for mandated special education programs – Contractual salary increases and related benefits – Assumed increase in Social Security ceiling from $106, 800 to $111, 400 5

A Prudent Budget for the Times • Very challenging budget climate • Overwhelming majority of expenditures are fixed costs which the district cannot refuse to fund • Property tax remains the main source of revenue —Roosevelt Field mall does not pay taxes to Garden City Public Schools • Garden City obtains relatively little funding from the state and federal governments • “Stimulus funds” have been used to retain levels of programming and staffing that would have been jeopardized without this additional revenue 6

A Prudent Budget for the Times • Budget retains a focus of expenditures devoted to instruction and programs for students • Budget maintains adequate reserves and fund balance • District continues to implement strong financial controls and oversight • District administrative operations are subject to oversight of auditors and Audit Committee • Internal auditor provides guidance to ensure that business operations follow best practices 7

What has been done to control costs? • Approval of district’s application for a higher credit rating that resulted in lower interest costs • Refinancing of construction bond • Strong overtime controls • Payroll processing efficiencies • Expanded use of cooperative bids • Reduction in print advertising for staff recruitment • Green initiatives to reduce energy consumption 8

What has been done to control costs? • Automated attendance system to provide efficiencies, data tracking and better controls • Automated receivables tracking in Business Office • Transportation efficiencies – – Participation in transportation consortia Combining afterschool trips wherever possible Reduction in field trips Automated system for field trip scheduling to promote efficiencies and exercise better controls – More efficient school bus routing through enhanced transportation software 9

What has been done to control costs? • Prudent use of worker’s compensation reserves to reduce burden on taxpayers • Reduction in print advertising for staff recruitment • Reduction in possible bond costs through inclusion of recommended projects in capital budget • Budget continues funding cycles for capital projects, purchase of buses and maintenance of technology infrastructure—Thereby reducing potential for future budget spikes 10

Initiatives Supported by Proposed 2009 -10 Budget 11

Initiatives for 2009 -10 Supported by Budget Proposals • Implement Phase 2 of disaster recovery plan for business operations • Capital items ($1. 2 million) – High School • Upgrade ventilation in science wing, fitness center and 1966 addition • Correct flooding problems on Rockaway Avenue side of building – Middle School • Install one ADA-accessible bathroom on each floor • Install kitchen hoods and ventilation system in cafeteria work area • Install high jump pit 12 • Complete crawl space clean-up

Initiatives for 2009 -10 Supported by Budget Proposals • Capital items: – Stratford • Reinforce ceiling of old coal storage room • Install new clock/bell system – Hemlock, Homestead and Locust Schools • Upgrade fire alarm system to add enhancements, including ADA accessibility These projects reduce the recommendations of the ad hoc Committee on Facilities by $837, 000. 13

Initiatives for 2009 -10 Supported by Budget Proposals • Continue technology infrastructure upgrade program • Improve functionality of the parent portal • Install 30 Smart Boards in the elementary schools • Upgrade library computers and circulation software in all schools; upgrade HS Art lab & MS Math lab hardware and software • Continue to provide high quality staff development 14

Initiatives for 2009 -10 Supported by Budget Proposals • Continue to enhance coteaching and expand Extended School Day (ESD) program, as appropriate • Develop and pilot projects for Response to Intervention (RTI) • Training for staff in prereferral strategies that may reduce needs for special education services • Purchase three, 66 -passenger buses and one service car 15

Staffing for 2009 -10 Proposed Increases Proposed Reductions 1. 0 FTE- Special Education (anticipated at primary level) 4. 0 FTE- Elementary teachers (based on enrollment decreases) 1. 0 FTE- Reserved for potential enrollment increases 2. 5 FTE- High school (elimination of low enrollment sections of high school electives) *. 5 FTE- Nurse (Stratford) Health Office *. 5 FTE- Nurse’s secretary “exchange” has no. 4 FTE- Technology staff developer significant budget impact 1. 0 FTE--A-V specialist 1. O FTE—Teacher aide 16

Staffing for 2009 -10 • Budget includes a net reduction of 4. 9 FTE teaching positions • No change in class size guidelines 17

Garden City School District Achievements • Excellent, sustained academic achievement • • 98% of students go on to higher education 90% of graduates attend 4 year colleges 99% of graduates receive Regents diplomas 80% receive Advanced Regents or Advanced Regents with Honors distinctions • 80% of Class of 2008 accepted to at least one of Princeton Review’s “Best Colleges” • Passing rates above 96% for 13 of 14 Regents exams (Math B was 92%) 18

Garden City School District Achievements • All eligible district schools have been honored as U. S. Department of Education “Schools of Excellence” • Garden City has the only combination on Long Island of a fully accredited high school and fully accredited middle school • Full range of special education services • 2 Merit Finalists; 6 Commended Students; 1 National Merit Hispanic Scholar • Elementary schools honored by NYS for research programs • Affiliate School of Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History • Extensive Advanced Placement offerings 19

Garden City School District Achievements • Honored as “High Performing/Gap Closing” school district four years in a row by NYS Department of Education • Mean SAT score of 1670 (national mean=1500) • GCHS honored as “Blue Star School” on basis of National Financial Literacy Certification Test • Instruction in Spanish language begins in grade 2 • Third place winner in National French Exam • Highly successful after-school “Discovery Science Club” at both elementary schools • District recognized by Newsday as one of Long Island’s “top districts” based on AP scores and graduation rates 20

Garden City School District Achievements • Grammy Signature School District—Selected 3 times as one of the top 100 music programs in the country • Extensive participation in All-County Music and All. County Art Festivals, including an All-County Art Scholarship winner • Long Island Advanced Placement in Art “Award of Excellence “ winner • Middle School student art work exhibited in State Capitol Building • Two gold, one silver, seven honorable mention and one school award in Nassau County Poet Laureate contest 21

Garden City School District Achievements GCHS is four-time winner of “Scholar Athlete School of Distinction” Award--No school in NYS has been recognized more frequently • Outstanding record of success in interscholastic athletics • Growing science research program—Siemens Intel, and Toshiba winners • Extensive character education programs at all levels • Faculty have received national and regional honors, written textbooks and presented at prestigious conferences • 22

How Do We Compare With…? Cold Spring Harbor East Williston Great Neck Jericho Locust Valley Manhasset North Shore Rockville Centre Roslyn Syosset 19

2008 Grade 4 Math • Syosset, Jericho and Manhasset 99% • Roslyn, Rockville Centre & Garden City 97% • All other districts below this level 24

2008 Grade 4 ELA • Syosset 98% • Jericho, Manhasset, Rockville Centre & East Williston 96% • Garden City 95% 25

2008 Grade 8 Math • Jericho & Manhasset 97% • Syosset 96% • Garden City, East Williston 95% 26

2008 Grade 8 ELA • Jericho 90% • Syosset & Herricks 89% • Garden City & Manhasset 88% 27

2008 English Regents* Passing • Syosset 100% • East Williston, Cold Spring Harbor, Manhasset 99% • Locust Valley, Rockville Centre 98% • Garden City, Herricks, Roslyn, Great Neck 97% Mastery • East Williston 91% • Cold Spring Harbor 82% • Manhasset 80% • Rockville Centre 76% • Garden City, Herricks 75% (GC increase=11%) * No data for Jericho 28

2008 Math B Regents* Passing • Cold Spring Harbor 99% • Manhasset 98% • Garden City 92% Mastery • Garden City 61% All other districts are below this level *No data reported for Jericho 29

Garden City School District Source: Vital Signs: School District Almanac, Scope 2008 30

Garden City School District Source: Vital Signs: School District Almanac, Scope 2008 31

10 Year Budget Analysis 12. 00% 9. 86% 11. 64% 10. 00% 8. 50% 6. 95% 8. 00% 6. 95% 6. 51% Percentage 5. 93% 5. 39% 6. 00% 4. 49% 4. 00% 2. 00% 0. 75 0. 00% 32 00 -01 01 -02 02 -03 03 -04 04 -05 05 -06 School Year 06 -07 07 -08 08 -09 09 -10

33

Comparison of Per Pupil Costs 34

District Comparison: Expenditure and Combined Wealth Ratio (CWR) • • • EXPENDITURE $ 20, 419 (2) $ 19, 679 (4) $ 18, 943 (6) $ 18, 586 (7) $ 17, 903 (11) $ 17, 688 (12) $ 17, 432 (13) $ 17, 339 (14) $ 17, 324 (15) $ 15, 273 (25) $ 14, 662 (31) $ 14, 658 (32) DISTRICT Jericho Locust Valley North Shore Great Neck Manhasset Roslyn Syosset Port Washington East Williston Rockville Centre GARDEN CITY Herricks CWR 2. 935 (6) 4. 060 (3) 2. 343 (11) 3. 476 (5) 4. 150 (2) 2. 504 (10) 2. 156 (14) 2. 853 (7) 2. 568 (9) 1. 829 (18) 2. 569 (8) 1. 798 (19) 35

Nassau County Tax Rates 36

2008 Property Tax Levy Per Pupil District Herricks Rockville Centre GARDEN CITY Port Washington East Williston Syosset Manhasset Roslyn Locust Valley Great Neck Jericho $ 16, 615 $ 17, 659 $ 17, 851 $ 19, 858 $ 21, 116 $ 21, 242 $ 21, 506 $ 22, 345 $ 24, 222 $ 24, 662 $ 26, 031 37

38

Discretionary vs. Mandated Costs 39

Contingent Budget • While the maximum increase permitted for a contingent (“austerity”) budget anywhere in NYS for 2009 -10 would be 4%, a school district cannot raise its expenditures if its proposed budget is defeated by the voters. • Therefore, if the Garden City proposed budget is not approved, contingent budget regulations would require the school district to reduce its expenditures by $1, 544, 000. • Non-tax revenues would decrease by approximately $325, 000 due to discontinuation of programs. • Overall, a contingent budget would result in a budget-tobudget decrease of 0. 88%. 40

Contingent Budget • A contingent budget would still result in an overall tax increase, specifically: 0. 12%. • It is estimated that homeowners (Class One) would receive a tax reduction of $12/yr. • The difference in cost to homeowners between the proposed budget and a contingent budget would be our budget and a contingent budget would be approximately $125 a year, or a little over $10 a month. 41

Contingent Budget • Programs considered for elimination under a contingent budget could include – After school child care – Continuing education – Summer enrichment • Additionally, cuts could be considered in : non-emergency capital items, bus purchases, technology equipment, cocurricular & athletics programs, and instructional & noninstructional staff • Community groups would be charged for all expenses associated with use of facilities, including fields 42

Property Tax Calculation www. gardencity. k 12. ny. us Go to the Garden City School District homepage, and click on the link that says: “Property Tax Calculator” 43

Don’t forget to vote on May 19 th High School— 7 a. m. to 10 p. m. Elementary and primary school students will also be voting on Field Day snacks 44