School board narrows down options, but in the end some buildings will have to close

Newton school board members already received survey input from teachers and staff about proposed master planning options, but they want even more feedback from the elementary faculty who would be most affected by any building closures, which administrators hinted as a definite possibility in the coming years.

Elected officials also agreed that of the three scenarios presented by the master planning committee, only two seemed to be the most viable.

Here are the scenarios the master planning committee came up with:

• Scenario No. 1: Construct a new grades 1-4 elementary school at Thomas Jefferson or Aurora Heights site and demolish original buildings, selling Woodrow Wilson Elementary site for development and add and remodel Emerson Hough for a pre-K and kindergarten center. This scenario costs more than $40 million.

• Scenario No. 2: Add and remodel Emerson Hough for pre-K-1st grade center, add onto and remodel Thomas Jefferson Elementary into a nine-section grades 2-4 building and then sell the remaining sites for redevelopment. This scenario costs more than $20 million.

• Scenario No. 3: Build a new pre-K-1st grade center at Woodrow Wilson site, repurpose Berg Middle school into a grades 2-6 center, add a new grades 7-8 center to the high school and then sell the remaining sites for redevelopment. This scenario is estimated to cost about $40 million.

Of these options, school board members largely rejected Scenario No. 3, which was also the least liked among staff according to results of a recent survey. Still, the remaining options still require the closure of elementary buildings, which is the district’s attempt to avoid overspending in coming years.

While no action was taken during the April 10 work session, board members reached a consensus that they need more information from Newton K-4 teachers. School board member Donna Cook said faculty have already been given an opportunity to give input through a survey, which had “mixed” reactions.

Robyn Friedman, president of the Newton school board, said the feedback could be presented through a work session, which she argued could bring more open-minded people in the room to talk with board members; getting elementary teachers and principals involved is crucial to find the best outcome for the district.

Having one scenario removed from the discussion also changes the focus to: Which one of these two options is the best educationally? School board member Travis Padget said he would not mind allowing the master planning committee to be in on the conversation as they have a different perspective than educators.

School board members also have a better idea on the estimated savings from each scenario. Tim Bloom, director of business services, said the first scenario would have a cost savings of more than $1.2 million; whereas the second and third scenarios would have a cost savings of more than $1.8 million.

Newton Superintendent Tom Messinger stressed the discussions with elementary teachers should include specifics of what the structure, configuration and capacity of each building would look like. Otherwise Messinger fears teachers will feel like their input in the survey was not listened to.

In the end the school district is seeking consistency in education and in experience across all buildings, Messinger said, and that is non-negotiable. Already, it is obvious to the superintendent that “there are some strong differences” in educational experiences between buildings.

The purpose behind the master planning, he added, is all about determining the short-term and long-term goals of school facilities. To emphasize his point, Messinger said this year Emerson Hough Elementary School is a two-section building across all grade levels except for one.

“Next year the remaining three-section grade level will be at its last year there,” Messigner said. “That most likely is headed toward a two-section elementary all the way through. We also have two other elementary buildings that are going to have a two-section grade level next year as well.”

Woodrow Wilson Elementary will have a two-section third grade, and Thomas Jefferson Elementary will have a two-section fourth grade. This essentially means the cap on the class sizes of those two sections at those buildings will be at 22 students. If split into three sections, the class sizes would be 13 or 14.

There are two other levels in the district that could very well become two sections as well, Messinger added.

“It becomes very difficult when you split up over multiple buildings to balance things out,” he said. “As a result of the forecasting through the budget, as well as what we see with our numbers, it makes it very difficult for us to continue moving forward spending money the way we are.”

In fact, the Newton school district is set to begin overspending by as early as next school year. Although COVID-related funding streams — such as ESSER funds — enabled the district to “survive the last couple years” without overspending, there will have to be major changes moving forward.

“I know of no way we can move forward with the same number of elementary schools we have now without overspending,” Messinger said. “…With our numbers, we’re facing a situation that needs to be addressed. And facilities is something that needs to be put in that plan.”

Board members intend to meet with elementary school teachers before summer break. The meeting could take place within three to four weeks, Messinger said.