The Newton school board has agreed to keep two schools open for the next school year, but they will have fewer classes.
There have been concerns about declining enrollment at the Walton Rural Life Center, which is a special education agriculture charter elementary school. There are also concerns about enrollment at Northridge Elementary.
The school board voted to reduce classes at Walton from two classes to one in kindergarten through fourth grade, with one teacher per grade. At Northridge Elementary, kindergarten and the first and second grades will be reduced to one class each. There will be two classes in grades three and four.
A statement from Superintendent Fred Van Ranken said there are still staffing and logistical issues to work out. The school board wants to handle staff reductions through attrition as much as possible.
