They came, they drove, they made their voice known, but as of the present at least, plans remain mostly unchanged. Newport Elementary will close, pending April 21 board approval of a longrange facilities plan looking 10 years out. We caught up Pepe Barton, director of Communications and Community relations for South Washington County Schools. Here’s what she had to say on the matter of Newport Elementary and long-range facility plans within the larger ISD 833 school district.

“Newport Elementary will be transformed into an early learning center no earlier than 2025 and is one piece of a large long-range facility package,” Barton shared in response to whether plans for Newport had changed after the March 24 show of support by parents and others. “The 10-year facility package as first presented on March 3 to the school board has not changed. Based on feedback from the community and school board, we may review high school attendance boundaries that affect the Newport area,” she said.

Queried next on who the early learning center that Newport Elementary is due to be turned into under the plan would serve, Barton had the following to say.

“Early learning centers would serve the whole district, she said. “It’s estimated that the Newport site should serve: 300 Early Childhood Family Education students per year; 300 preschool and Pre-K students per year and includes approximately 70 Early Childhood Special Education students; 700 early childhood screenings per year; 101 students in self-contained Early Childhood Special Education classrooms; and approximately 900 students (birth to 5) for assessments, evaluations, intervention visits and intake meetings.”

Queried still again as to if there was a way that a reduced portion of the present Newport Elementary could be used for elementary school purposes while the rest of the building and/or an addition be used for early learning purposes, Barton effectively said no.

“The building and space cannot accommodate both an early learning center and a small elementary,” she said of Newport. “We must ensure we provide efficient use of buildings, resources, staffing and opportunities for students. Additionally, we are confident that the three elementary schools that would serve Newport students in 2025 are fully capable of creating a welcoming school community and lasting relationships with our students.”

Queried one last time on the specifics of a transition team including parents to ensure things go smoothly, Barton had the following to share.

“A transition team is dependent on school board approval and a successful bond in August and is therefore years away,” she said. “Once the team is formed, they would create activities for students to become familiar with their future elementary school. The team could decide to create tour dates for students to visit their elementary school for example,” she said.

The long-range facility plan for South Washington County Schools, can be viewed in more detail at https://www. sowashco.org/facilityplanning, going before the school board for its approval on April 21.

If approved at the April 21 meeting as currently proposed, Newport Elementary will be closed, and its students moved elsewhere. Image from long range-facility plans at www.sowashco.org/facilityplanning.

Seen from aerial perspective, Bailey Meadows in Newport is currently a very hot property, with just five opportunities left in terms of home buying this Monday. Image from www.mihomes.com.

Newport’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan calls for new urban development in the northeast and southeast corners of the city, among other changes to come. Image from City of Newport Comprehensive Plan at www.ci.newport.mn.us.