District adopts contingency budget

The GASD Board of Education voted to adopt a $44,613,206.50 contingency school budget at its May 31 meeting. The board vote follows the May 16 budget vote in which voters rejected a proposed $45.16 million budget by nearly an 8-5 margin.

Under state law, the Board of Education had the option of putting up the original budget for a second vote, putting up a modified budget, or adopting a contingency budget. After a lengthy discussion, the board opted to adopt the contingency budget.

"The board carefully weighed out the three options," said GASD Superintendent Ron Limoncelli. "It was a difficult vote for each member. Those who opposed contingency felt that a modified budget might preserve equipment purchases, staff development, curriculum writing, and staff that will be lost under the new budget. They contended that the additional staff would preserve lower class sizes. Those who supported contingency felt that the May 16 vote was a clear mandate from the voters that they would not accept anything but the contingency budget."