School Budget Looms at Board of Ed Meeting

While the school board wasn't legally obligated to discuss the 2010-11 budget at its most recent meeting, many programs on the chopping block crept into the discussion as the April 20 presentation of the final proposed budget gets closer.

Superintendent Dr. Geoffrey Gordon specifically addressed concerns about the district's pre-k program. "The program is not being cut," Gordon said firmly. "What is recommended is that the costs of pre-k are being cut. We can save $400,000. Being smart means providing more with less and not one child will get less."

The board's Curriculum Committee also suggested the possibility of adding a literacy coach to the budget. This one position would be able to help at least 2,500 students throughout the district.

"I think looking into having a literacy coach is worth the risk if one person can affect the lives of all these kids," board member Robert Seiden said. "If we have to increase the budget or cut a position or two to be able to afford this, then so be it."

But the entire Board of Education was not in agreement about adding to the budget. "This is not the year to be taking chances," trustee Jean-Marie Posner said. "It is important to keep the budget where it is and ensure it can pass."

The AT LAST (Absolutely Terrific Local Activities for Summer Time) summer program was also handed over to the Port Washington Children's Center at the meeting. Board president Karen Sloan once again defended the decision of the program being run outside the district.

"The program will be improved and will benefit from an outside vendor who can operate outside the confines of the school district,"  Sloan said. "No board member will be running AT LAST."

Port Washington Children's Center's executive director, Donna Preminger, was on hand to accept the honor of having the center run the program.

"AT LAST has provided a wonderful summer program for many years," Preminger said. "We're looking forward to enhancing that experience."