The New Hyde Park-Garden City Park Board of Education approved the hiring of two new elementary teachers at its Monday night meeting to maintain smaller class sizes at the Hillside Grade and New Hyde Park Road Schools.
New Hyde Park-Garden City Park Superintendent of Schools Robert Katulak said an increase in enrollment at both schools prompted the move.
“That’s why we try to do our registration in January,” Katulak said. He added that there are always additional students being enrolled during the summer.
The new elementary school teachers will allow the school district to increase the number of kindergarten and fifth grade classes at the respective schools from three to four classes, Katulak said.
He said there will be 83 children starting kindergarten at the Hillside Grade School in September and 82 fifth graders in the New Hyde Park Road School. Enrollment in the respective classes at each school last year was approximately 72 students.
Katulak said the current average salary of teachers in the elementary school district is $85,000 per year, with variations between individuals teachers depending on educational credentials and health benefits.
He said the district budget always anticipates unexpected expenses such as those resulting from an increase in students.
“There’s always a little cushion for emergencies like that,” Katulak said.
The New Hyde Park-Garden City Park district budget for 2014-15 is $36.07, a 1.55 percent increase over the current $35.52 million budget.
Six teachers retired from the district this year, resulting in a decrease in salaries from $18.43 million to $18.34 million, according to Michael Frank, New Hyde Park-Garden City Park assistant superintendent for business.
The district tax levy is $29.53 million – a 1.64 percent increase over the current $29.05 million levy that falls below the state-mandated tax cap.
At Monday night’s meeting, Katulak reported that security upgrades at the four district schools had been completed. Included are video monitors at all doors, enhanced public address systems and panic buttons.
He said funding for the estimated $400,000 in security improvements were drawn from capital reserves.
