By Rebecca Gorelov ’14, Staff Writer

As the nation has been adjusting to the repercussions of the Great Recession, Newark Academy’s School Council has done so as well.  Even though Newark Academy is a private institution, it is certainly not impervious to the effects of this recession. The School Council has made many changes to counteract these effects,  reusing supplies, advertising more to boost event attendance, and reducing event organizational costs.

Numerous solutions were proposed to deal with its current state of keeping afloat during the recession. According to Mr. Erlandson, a faculty Council member, “The School Council as a whole has implemented logical ways to reduce [costs] over time.”

The School Council now consistently reuses its supplies. Mr. Erlandson admits that “the two supply closets in the front of the school are filled with supplies from previous years.” If items like leftover T-shirts from last year’s Run for F.O.P. are reused, do new balloons or lights really need to be bought every time Newark Academy hosts an event?

Another major change has been an emphasis on publicity to increase event revenue, with the School Council advertising more. According to School President Rebecca Ellis, the Council tried to “maximize publicity to match the spending” during Homecoming Day. These advertisements were quite conspicuous and effective, from the Facebook groups to the signs in the hallways of Newark Academy.

The School Council has also made budget cuts.  Though she is not permitted to give the exact budget cuts, Ellis does confirm that they have been made. Mr. Erlandson and the Council also understand that they have to “be in tune with the cost of the events.” Cutbacks were implemented during Spirit Week, with the faculty no longer receiving free T-shirts, as an example.

Though the economy has not hit the School Council as hard as those of other schools nationwide, its members admit that they have certainly had to make some changes to adjust.