Friday, April 16, 2021
Vol. 98, No.33
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Board examines curriculum, online meeting glitches
UNDEFEATED 14-0
BY RIKKI N. MASSAND
The Garden City Girls Field Hockey team is undefeated 14-0 in regular conference play. Above, the team after its 4-0 win against Manhasset. Playoffs begin this week.
Technology costs drive up budget BY RIKKI MASSAND As Garden City Public Schools moves towards adopting a budget for the next school year, the Board of Education’s focus shifted to technology and meeting the needs of 21st century in-school computer-assisted learning, electronic device distribution, as well as some forms of backup remote technology. The district is proposing an overall budget of $122,381,487 -- meeting the maximum allowable state-formulated tax increase of 0.84% and year-overyear, an increase of $1,468,347 or 1.21% from the 2020-2021
school district budget. This is an uptick from the figures presented through March. At the board’s last regular meeting on March 23rd, Director of Technology Dr. Rita Melikian noted the major role districtwide IT and software has played over the past 12 months, since the pandemic forced the move to remote learning. She said remote and hybrid learning required a variety of technology including external cameras and microphone upgrades for existing classroom (teachers’) deskops; installing omnidirectional mics/speakers and a USB splitter supercharge
plus a legacy SMART Board, “to make SMART Notebooks more versatile” and HP model laptops with better sound and video quality for Garden City’s teachers. Melikian said these items were needed “to make the physical and virtual classroom setup work. A total 350 new laptops were bought and distributed to faculty, administrators and staff. Additionally mobile workstations, mobile smartboards, as well as personal speakers and personal amplification systems were put in place to assist in remote instruction. See page 53
During a public work session on Wednesday, April 7th, Garden City Board of Education President William Holub rebuffed any assertions that the school district was in violation of state education law regarding curriculum development. His comments were in response to criticism on an earlier school board meeting, on March 23rd, when some parents complained that their comments on curriculum had been cut off by the Board. “The district is in compliance with Board Policy 4200 and Curriculum Guides are available to parents on the school district website, and have been shared with parents who’ve asked for them. The Board has sought guidance from our legal counsel and asked them to review compliance issues recently raised by community members -- counsel has assured the board that the district is in compliance with Board Policy, applicable Education law and state regulations, The Garden City Union Free School District educational program supports the district’s mission statement and strives to educate all children in our schools,” Board President Holub announced last Wednesday. He noted that Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kusum Sinha “has and will continue to update the board and community as to the ongoing improvements to the district’s educational program.” Holub said the school board recognizes that a number of policies in the district’s policy book are in need of review. The school board’s Policy Committee is tasked with prioritizing the review of Curriculum-related policy, he said. “The board appreciates that parents in Garden City are active participants in our meetings, and invested in the education of the children. The board understands that the community seeks to improve the educational experience for all children, and we wholeheartedly share in that desire to constantly improve our district. The board hopes we can continue to collaborate productively with our Policy Committee to achieve common goals and we look forward to hearing from Dr. Sinha about her plans and progress,” Board President Holub noted. See page 50
Garden Market to offer unique plants PAGE 24 HOLA celebrates Easter with egg hunt PAGE 49