MADISON, Wis. -- The Madison Metropolitan School District is considering school closings and staff cutbacks to balance a $30 million budget shortfall this coming year.

READ: Parents React To Possible School Closures

District officials had warned that either a tax hike or deep cuts would need to be made to solve the budget problem. Now, officials are considering more than 220 options to narrow the budget impasse, created chiefly because of cuts in state aid.

Superintendent Dan Nerad announced a series of proposals on Friday afternoon at a press conference. He also is presenting ideas to the school board, which must ultimately craft a game plan.

"This problem is of great magnitude, but the board has a need to look at all options," Nerad said. "These options have been placed in four different tiers, ranging from a set of options we would recommend the board consider last."

These so-called tiers span the gamut of school spending. Tier one includes options district officials said that would be easy to accomplish, such as refinancing debt and cutting back on clerical supplies.

However, the options get more difficult from there. The second tier includes an athletic ticket price increase and cutting some ninth-grade sports teams. Tier three has further staff reductions and cuts some neighborhood center programs. Tier four has the most controversial items, including a school consolidation plan that closes Charles Lindbergh, Lakeview and Mendota elementary schools, as well as Blackhawk Middle School, cuts 96 additional jobs, increases class size and eliminating school breakfasts.

School officials warn that these are some of the options, brought on by the immensity of the budget hole.

"These are not necessarily things that I would be recommending for final budget cuts, but they are things that equal the $30 million amount, and with a district like ours coming up with a list that size of that magnitude, that is a significant list," he said.

The school board will have to decide which options to move forward on and how to balance that with a tax increase of more than $300 if they cut nothing.

School Board President Arlene Silviera, who joined Nerad at the press conference, said that they'll attempt to weigh competing interests.

"It's important to have dialogue on what is the balance, what do you value?" she said. "We understand the need for the strong public schools and how vital that is to a strong community. We also understand the tough economic times that our community is facing."

Board members said that they don't seem to be leaning toward the tier four cuts, especially the school closings. They said they also don't seem to lean toward a full tax increase, saying it's likely things will end somewhere in the middle.

Meanwhile, the school board is looking for a lot of public input on these proposals. They've scheduled three workshops and two public hearings before a May 4 vote on the issue.

For More Info:

Madison Metropolitan School District Info On Proposed Cuts
Madison Metropolitan School District's List Of Meetings (PDF Format)
Madison Metropolitan School District's List Of Events