District hears input on possible school closure
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Newton Community School District officials had an attentive audience during the first of five meetings regarding the Elementary Boundaries and Alignment Study and a possible school closure.
“Our first priority is kids and their learning,” said NCSD Superintendent Steve McDermott before giving a presentation to more than 80 people at Emerson Hough Elementary School on Thursday.
Information was presented regarding the district’s enrollment decline over the past 11 years and the loss of state aid, budget woes caused by Gov. Chet Culver’s 10-percent across-the-board statewide cuts and options on the table to deal with the $2.25 to $2.5 million shortfall in the district’s budget.
“Your input is important,” said Sheri Benson, board member. “This is a big decision, and it requires a whole community.”
Options on the table for the district to deal with the multi-million dollar budget deficit are (in no particular order):
• Consolidate all five elementary schools into four schools and have Central Office, Basics and Beyond Alternative High School and other district programs housed in the fifth school;
• Close one elementary school;
• Close one elementary school, maintaining four elementary sites and moving Central Office and Four Oaks to the remaining open schools;.
• Close one elementary school and move Central Office, Basics and Beyond Alternative High School, Four Oaks and other district programs into the remaining facilities.
McDermott stressed that no school has been chosen to be shutdown if that is the route the board decides to take.
“No decision has been made. No decision has been made. No decision has been made,” McDermott told the audience. “There are a lot of rumors going around and that’s just what they are rumors. We will only make a decision after getting substantial input from you guys.”
For the first time in discussions with the public, officials shared what the impact of not closing a school would mean to property taxes. Without making any cuts, the district would have to raise its levy by more than 23 percent, the superintendent said.
To make up for the $2.5 million budget shortfall, estimates show the levy, which sits at $16.61 per $1,000 assessed taxable value, would have to increase by $3.90. That would mean a home with a $100,000 assessed value, including the state rollback, would pay more than $960. That translates roughly to an increase of more than $204 year over year for only the school portion of their tax bill.
“It’s just like at home, you reduce expenses or figure out how to bring more in,” McDermott said. “Our options are make cuts or raise taxes.”
One woman in the audience, who was attending with her two sons, said she’d pay more in taxes to ensure her children have a quality education.
“I’d be willing to pay that to keep a school open,” the woman said.
Officials also fielded questions regarding staff cuts, transferring students, consolidating with other Jasper County schools and a host of other concerns. McDermott said he wants to hear from the public regarding all of it.
“I hope when we go to every meeting people tell me about the benefits of their buildings,” he said. “We want people to be passionate about their buildings.”
Parents and students at all elementary schools will get their chance to share their thoughts as four additional meetings are scheduled for February. They are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Aurora Heights Elementary School, 6 p.m. Feb. 10 at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, 6 p.m. Feb. 16 at Woodrow Wilson Elementary School and 6 p.m. Feb. 18 at Berg Elementary School.
The superintendent said a bus tour for the public and additional meetings may be scheduled as necessary.
During the meeting Thursday one thing was made clear by officials and audience members — no one likes the option of closing a school.
“None of it’s gonna be pretty. I don’t enjoy this,” said NCSD Superintendent Steve McDermott. “I know you don’t but we’ve got to deal with this. ... At this point, we don’t have time to wait financially. I hate it but it’s something we’ve got to deal with.”
Jessica Lowe can be contacted at 792-3121 ext. 426 or via e-mail at jlowe@newtondailynews.com.
