GARDEN CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2009-10

School District Budget

PTA Presentation

May, 2009

GARDEN CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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% 22

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2009-10 Proposed Budget Expenditures

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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

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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

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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

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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

• 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

What has been done to control costs?

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• 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


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• 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


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Initiatives Supported by Proposed 2009-10 Budget

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• 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 • Complete crawl space clean-up

Initiatives for 2009-10 Supported by Budget Proposals

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• 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.


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• 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


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• 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


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Staffing for 2009-10Proposed Increases Proposed Reductions

1.0 FTE- Special Education(anticipated at primary level)

1.0 FTE- Reserved for potential enrollment increases

*.5 FTE- Nurse (Stratford)

4.0 FTE- Elementary teachers (based on enrollment decreases)

2.5 FTE- High school (elimination of low enrollment sections of high school electives)

*.5 FTE- Nurse’s secretary

.4 FTE- Technology staff developer

1.0 FTE--A-V specialist 1.O FTE—Teacher aide

Health Office

“exchange” has no

significant budget impact

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Staffing for 2009-10

• Budget includes a net reduction of 4.9 FTE teaching positions

• No change in class size guidelines

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Garden City SchoolDistrict 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%)

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Garden City SchoolDistrict 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

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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

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• 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

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• 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

How Do We Compare With…? Cold Spring Harbor

East Williston

Great Neck

Jericho

Locust Valley

Manhasset

North Shore

Rockville Centre

Roslyn

Syosset19

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2008 Grade 4 Math

• Syosset, Jericho and Manhasset 99%

• Roslyn, Rockville Centre & Garden City 97%

• All other districts below this level

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2008 Grade 4 ELA

• Syosset 98%

• Jericho, Manhasset, Rockville Centre & East Williston 96%

• Garden City 95%

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2008 Grade 8 Math

• Jericho & Manhasset 97%

• Syosset 96%

• Garden City, East Williston 95%

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2008 Grade 8 ELA

• Jericho 90%

• Syosset & Herricks 89%

• Garden City & Manhasset 88%

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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

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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

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Garden City School District

Source: Vital Signs: School District Almanac, Scope 2008

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Garden City School District

Source: Vital Signs: School District Almanac, Scope 2008

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10 Year Budget Analysis

Comparison of Per Pupil Costs

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District Per Pupil SpendingJericho 20,419Locust Valley 19,679North Shore 18,943Great Neck 18,586Manhasset 17,903Roslyn 17,688Syosset 17,432Port Washington 17,339East Williston 17,324Rockville Centre 15,273Garden City 14,662Herricks 14,658

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District Comparison:Expenditure and Combined Wealth

Ratio (CWR) EXPENDITURE DISTRICT CWR

• $ 20,419 (2) Jericho 2.935 (6) • $ 19,679 (4) Locust Valley 4.060 (3) • $ 18,943 (6) North Shore 2.343 (11)• $ 18,586 (7) Great Neck 3.476 (5) • $ 17,903 (11) Manhasset 4.150 (2) • $ 17,688 (12) Roslyn 2.504 (10) • $ 17,432 (13) Syosset 2.156 (14) • $ 17,339 (14) Port Washington 2.853 (7) • $ 17,324 (15) East Williston 2.568 (9) • $ 15,273 (25) Rockville Centre 1.829 (18) • $ 14,662 (31) GARDEN CITY 2.569 (8)• $ 14,658 (32) Herricks 1.798 (19)

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Nassau County Tax Rates

CLASS IRANK SCHOOL DISTRICTS TAX RATE

42 North Shore $411.50043 Port Washington $410.38344 Hicksville $379.94345 Garden City $371.18546 Locust Valley $368.85847 Island Park $351.94648 Long Beach $348.74549 Lawrence $331.25650 Oyster Bay-East Norwich $318.40451 Great Neck $312.66352 Manhasset $311.675

CLASS I TAX RATES 2008-09

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

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District Budget % Tax %

Cold Spring HarborEast WillistonGarden City

3.402.360.75

3.332.671.57

Great Neck 2.44 3.10

Herricks 1.75 1.99

Jericho 3.77 3.94

Locust Valley 3.38 3.91

Manhasset 0.87 0.45

North Shore 3.40 3.66

Port Washington 2.28 2.05

Rockville Centre 1.99 2.93

Roslyn 0.63 1.31

SyossetNassau average

3.992.59

4.162.87

Comparator District Budget Projections

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Discretionary vs. Mandated Costs

• 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-to-budget decrease of 0.88%.

Contingent Budget

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• 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.

Contingent Budget

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• 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 & non-instructional staff

• Community groups would be charged for all expenses associated with use of facilities, including fields

Contingent Budget

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Property Tax Calculation

www.gardencity.k12.ny.us

Go to the Garden City School District homepage, and click on the link that says:

“Property Tax Calculator”

http://www.gardencity.k12.ny.us/

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Don’t forget to vote on May 19th High School—7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Elementary and primary school

students will also be voting on Field

Day snacks

GARDEN CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

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