NEW CASTLE SCHOOLS Impact of staff cuts studied

A former student donated $85,000 to the district for a computer lab.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Staff positions that were cut last year to balance the New Castle Area School District's budget could be reinstated next year, said schools Superintendent George Gabriel.
"My concern is that cuts made in the past may have had a negative impact on the instructional program," Gabriel said.
Gabriel said a comprehensive study is now under way to determine whether losing any of the 25 positions eliminated by attrition has created problems in the district. The job elimination was done to help balance the 2002-2003 school budget.
The superintendent said the district's proposed $33.5 million budget for the 2003-04 school year, introduced Thursday by the school board, could increase if the study shows the job losses have had a negative impact on the district's instructional program.
Gabriel noted that positions were eliminated in administration, instructional and support staff through retirements and not filling vacancies.
The school board is scheduled to vote on the final budget June 30.
The tax millage is expected to be set at 17.27 mills.
One mill of tax equals about $559,000 for the 2003-2004 budget.
Donation
In other business, the district received an $85,000 donation from a former foreign exchange student. The money is to be used to provide a fully equipped computer classroom in the new New Castle High School which is now under construction.
Gabriel said the money is being donated from Sanjeev Malaney, an exchange student who attended classes at the high school in the mid-1970s. Further information on Malaney was not available.