School officials will hold three town hall meetings this month to field input from residents on a proposed budget for the 2013-2014 school year. 

District administrators and the School Board started the budget process earlier this school year with an estimated gap of $400,000 to balance next year's budget, and have discussed changes in custodial and secretarial services, health plan changes and reduction in some stipends to bridge the deficit. 

The meeting locations and times are as follows:

• Feb. 12, 7 p.m. in the Shorewood High School Library, 1701 E. Capitol Dr. (During the regular School Board meeting)

• Feb. 14, 8:30 a.m. in the Atwater’s Early Elementary Center, 2100 E. Capitol Dr. (EEC-SW)

• Feb. 19, 7 p.m. in the Shorewood High School Library, 1701 E. Capitol Dr.

The School Board hopes to vote on a preliminary budget by March to allow administrators to begin the hiring process of new teachers and staff earlier than the district typically has in past years.