By PETER HUSSMANN
Newton residents will learn this evening how the school district plans to deal with its significant budget problems when a list of recommendations on how to cut as much as $2.5 million from next year's budget is unveiled.
Newton School Superintendent Steve McDermott is set to release a set of recommendations for the school board to consider implementing as means to cut costs when it meets at 6 p.m. at the high school's media center.
During the month of February, school board members hosted a set of public meetings at each of the elementary schools, gave residents the opportunity to tour the facilities and held a Friday evening public meeting where they gave their first thoughts on the input received at the meetings.
The district is looking at a number of alternatives, including the closing of either Woodrow Wilson or Emerson Hough and realigning the boundaries and school alignments as cost saving measures. Other suggestions have included the closing of the administration building, moving the alternative high school from its location at the DMACC campus and staff and program cuts district wide that could total as much as $1 million.
School board members were provided the superintendent's recommendations in board packets late last week, but said they were to remain confidential until McDermott had the opportunity to explain them at tonight's meeting.
No action on the recommendations will be taken tonight. However, the board is expected to take action at its meeting on March 22 in order to allow district officials time to put together a budget that takes into account the recommendations approved in advance of the April 15 deadline. In addition, staff are required to be notified by April 30 if they will be laid off from their positions with the district in the coming school year.
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