June 28, 2023

Cardinals,

On June 26, 2023 the Newton Community School District Board of Directors met in a work session to discuss the planning scenarios presented to them on May 22, 2023 by FRK architects + engineers and a timeline for what the process could look like if one of these scenarios would be accepted. These scenarios were developed to help address the issues of declining enrollment and how to best address the facilities / maintenance needs over the next 10 years. Over the past year, options were developed through the work of the Master Planning Committee, made up of community and staff members to help address these issues. Ultimately, the continued declining enrollment has forced the district to consider scenarios that result in using fewer buildings across the district.

The process of moving to using fewer buildings in our district began nearly two years ago. The number of students enrolled in our district has been on the decline for many years and has reached the point where the increases in costs each year are not being matched by the revenues generated. As a result, we must reduce spending. Just this past year, the Newton Community School District saw a decline of 96 enrolled students from the first day of school to the last day of school. This decrease in enrollment is the equivalent of over $700,000 in revenues each year.

As a result of the additional loss of students throughout the school year, it became necessary to seek both short term and long term solutions to the situation. The timeline and scenarios presented to the school board address both, without compromising our mission to empower every learner to achieve a lifetime of personal success.

The school board remains committed to gathering information from the community and staff to help understand their priorities and perspectives. As the board has not made any decisions about the future of our facilities at this time, this input will help guide their decisions going forward. The decision making process about our future will continue at the July 10, 2023 board meeting. That is why this communication is coming out today.

If you have any comments or questions about the timeline or the options, you are asked to complete the Google form no later than July 6, 2023. All feedback obtained through this completed Google survey will be presented to the school board for consideration in their decision making process. Additionally, there will be a period of time during the July 10, 2023 school board meeting for public comments specific to the Master Planning process. Our board meetings are always open to the public, and the July 10 meeting will be held at 6:30 PM at the EJH Beard Administration Center (1302 1st Ave W, Newton).

If you have any questions about this process, please feel free to contact me at 641.792.5809. Your input is valuable and is greatly appreciated.

Yours truly,

Tom Messinger

The Newton Community School District is seeking comments or questions from our Cardinal families, staff, and community members to further assist the Board of Directors in their decision making regarding our Master Planning process. We appreciate your participation. The outcome of this work is very important to our Cardinal community!

The timeline outlines what the process could look like to make the shift to utilizing fewer buildings for our district's student attendance centers. As student enrollment has been on the decline for many years, it has reached the point where the increases in costs each year are not being matched by the revenues generated, and we must reduce spending.

We are seeking both short term and long term solutions to the situation. The timeline and scenarios presented to the school board address both, without compromising our mission to empower every learner to achieve a lifetime of personal success.

*We will accept public feedback from June 28, 2023 - July 6, 2023

*Public feedback will be presented to the Board of Directors for consideration in their decision making process at the July 10, 2023 Board Meeting

*The public is also welcome to comment on the Master Planning Process at the July 10, 2023 School Board Meeting to be held at 6:30 PM at the EJH Beard Administration Center (1302 1st Avenue W, Newton).

Take The Survey HERE!

Softball Program

The softball program is full of team spirit and great at lifting each other up! Check out how the Softball team is doing and what makes the program successful at Newton Community School District.

Baseball Program

Hard work on the field and great teamwork make a great baseball program here in NCSD! Learn more about the baseball program here.

Meet Our New Assistant Principal at Berg Middle School

Welcome the New Assistant Principal, Jennifer Wiebel at Berg Middle School!

Dates in the District

July 4th- District Offices Closed

July 5th- WEST Academy Food Pantry (Check social media for times)

July 10th-School Board Meeting at 6:30pm

EJH Beard Administration Center (1302 1st Ave W).

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