March 31, 2026
 
Dear Garden City School Community,
 
Yesterday, during the recording of the Spotlight on Long Island Schools radio show, I had the opportunity to sit with four of our senior student athletes as they reflected on the impact athletics has had on their lives. Their words were thoughtful and grounded in experience as they spoke about perseverance, time management, hard work, and the responsibility of contributing to something larger than themselves.
 
One student shared a story that has stayed with me. As a junior, he was cut from the basketball team. Rather than letting that disappointment define him, he used it as motivation. With the support of his family, who challenged him to grow both as a person and in his character, he fully committed himself, practiced more than ever before, and returned this year not only making the team, but earning All County and Senior All Star recognition. During the conversation, he said something simple, yet powerful – “real growth comes from struggle”.
 
This is just one of many ways our students inspire us here in Garden City. We see that inspiration every day in our classrooms, on our fields, and throughout our schools.
 
As we approach spring recess, his words serve as an important reminder for all of us. I would like to take a moment to share a few important updates with you:
 
Upcoming Budget Vote and Trustee Election – Tuesday, May 19
Thank you to those residents who have attended or listened to our Board of Education budget workshops over the past several weeks as we work together to develop a proposed spending plan for the 2026-27 school year. The proposed spending plan being considered continues to enhance offerings for students while remaining within the tax levy cap of 2.98%. Detailed information about the budget will be mailed home to all residents in late April/early May. Additionally, all budget information can be found on the district’s website. Our next budget workshop is on April 14th, which will focus on technology, special education and athletics.   
 
Literacy Update
The Literacy Review Team continues to thoughtfully evaluate instructional programs for students in grades K through 5 as part of our ongoing literacy review.
 
The first pilot, Benchmark Advance, has been completed in grades K through 2. This phase included professional learning, classroom support, and ongoing feedback from teachers, students, administrators, and families. Through student work and stakeholder input, we saw meaningful growth across grade levels, including strong development of foundational skills in kindergarten and increased independence and writing complexity by grade 2. Feedback from both teachers and families has been positive and is helping to guide our next steps.
 
The second K-2 pilot, Amplify CKLA, is now underway, with training and coaching in progress. A third program, myView, will follow before the committee completes its full review of all three programs.
 
Additional information and presentations are available on the district website and can be found here - Garden City Public Schools - Literacy Review .
 
Capital Improvement Bond Projects
Construction continues across the campus as part of the capital improvement bond project approved by voters in 2024. With the arrival of warmer weather, progress is clearly visible on the new high school fitness center and athletic fields. We recently celebrated the ribbon cutting of the multipurpose field and look forward to opening the baseball and softball fields in the coming weeks. It has been wonderful to see our students already enjoying these new spaces.
 
Work is also moving forward on the Bloomberg Business Center. With more than 200 students expressing interest in the high school’s new College Bloomberg Fundamentals course for next year, there is great excitement about the opportunities this space will provide.
 
Update on Hiring of New Administrators
The search process for new principals at Homestead and Hemlock, as well as for an assistant superintendent for business and finance, is progressing well. We received a strong pool of applicants for each position and are currently in the final stages with the goal to appoint them at our April 22nd Board of Education meeting.  We are pleased to share that Mr. Escobar will remain as our middle school principal next school year.
 
GC Celebrates America 250
Last week, Garden City High School hosted an AP Government author event as part of the district’s GC Celebrates America 250 initiative, marking the first major program in a series of planned experiences commemorating our nation’s semi-quincentennial. As part of this work, students explored “Born Equal” by Akhil Amar, which examines how key constitutional amendments helped advance the nation’s founding ideals. Dr. Amar, joined by podcast co-host Andy Lipka, visited the high school for an engaging discussion with students, which was recorded for their podcast “Amarica’s Constitution.” This experience will culminate later this year as students complete their Seal of Civic Readiness projects centered on the theme “America at 250: The Unfinished Revolution.”
 
Schools Open on Friday, May 22
As a reminder, due to used snow days, schools will now be open on Friday, May 22.
 
In closing, I am truly grateful for the partnership we share, whether through your presence at Board meetings, the thoughtful perspectives you bring, or the care and encouragement you provide your children each day.

I wish our community a Happy Passover and Happy Easter to those who celebrate and hope our entire school community has a wonderful spring break. I look forward to welcoming everyone back for a strong finish to the school year!  
 
Sincerely,
 
Kusum
 
Kusum Sinha, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools