Lincoln Elementary School will be closed for the upcoming school year after Caldwell voters rejected a $4.1 million supplemental levy on May 21, according to a Caldwell School District newsletter posted on its website.
Lincoln’s closure and other reductions were outlined in a newsletter that also stated the “District is experiencing a reduction in state funding, forcing the School Board to cut the District’s budget by $5.5 million.”
Caldwell’s Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at Lincoln Elementary School to discuss the budget and reductions. The meeting will be livestreamed and open to the public.
Here are the reductions outlined in the newsletter:
- Closure of Lincoln Elementary School. Students will be reassigned to the district’s five other elementary schools. Lincoln’s staff will transfer to open positions at other schools.
- Reconfiguration of middle schools. All seventh- and eighth-grade students will attend Syringa Middle School. All fifth- and sixth-grade students will attend Jefferson Middle School.
- Staff reductions in the district office, technology and maintenance departments.
- Reduction of activities/athletic transportation and field trips. Students participating in extracurricular, co-curricular activities and athletics will be required to pay a fee to cover costs.
- Reduction of school resource officers and safe-school aides.
The newsletter said “We understand the profound impact this will have on our students, families, staff, and community. We are working to facilitate the rezoning of the District’s elementary school boundaries. We will provide guidance, information, and resources to assist families throughout the process in the coming days.”
*Look for coverage of Monday’s meeting next week.
