Members for a Facilities and Enrollment Committee, charged with researching school facilities, is set to be chosen by the end this week, according to Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi, Jr.

The superintendent updated the Board of Education on the committee's formation at its meeting on Tuesday, February 16. The Facilities and Enrollment Committee will begin its research in March with a plan to deliver an advisory report in July, according to Dr Erardi.

At its meeting on February 4, the Board of Education charged the superintendent to create the committee to "research the use of school facilities in light of projected enrollment changes in Newtown," according to a document listing the charges for the advisory committee created, after discussion, by the school board at the meeting.

The Board of Education's charge asks that the committee's report include details from the 2015 district facilities study, discussion on "why numbers from peak enrollment are not comparable to numbers now," and next steps for school facilities usage. It also requests a final recommendation and analysis of costs and savings to the district and town for facilities configurations, including: no change in the number of facilities used for the 2016-17 school year; returning Newtown Middle School to the town "at some point after the end of the 2016-17 school year"; and returning an elementary school to the town after the 2016-17 school year.

"The district facilities committee will be facilitated by the superintendent and should include members of the district staff (chosen by the superintendent), up to three representatives of the Board of Education (assigned by the [Board of Education] chair), and three representatives from the community (appointed by the [Board of Education] chair and superintendent)," the school board's charge reads.

The 2015 Facility and Enrollment Study was presented by the superintendent to the school board in June 2015, and it compiled cost savings and avoidances and recommended closing Hawley Elementary School due to declining enrollment. The recommendation also listed closing Newtown Middle School as an option. At a June 24 special meeting, the Board of Education unanimously decided that no school would be closed for the 2016-17 school year, and it would continue its general discussion on the best use of school district facilities.

At the February 16 meeting Dr Erardi stressed that the new facility and enrollment committee is an advisory group that will report to the school board.

"I'm excited about the work, and I am confident that on or about July 1 all of that information will be brought back to the board," said Dr Erardi.