NORTON -- Moving forward from the defeat of the Proposition 2 1 / sub 2 override request will be challenging at best, say school officials who are particularly concerned with the state accreditation status of Norton High School.

School Superintendent Patricia Ansay spent Wednesday morning hand delivering 30 layoff notices to her teachers, and meeting with school principals to discuss the department's still sketchy recovery plan.

`` The disappointment isn't about me,'' Ansay said. `` It's about hard-working individuals who are without work. At times like these, it's hard to forget about the kids (too). They are the ones who will suffer.''

The anxiety is highest at the high school.

The school was placed on warning status by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges earlier this year, and given a lengthy list of problems that need fixing. An inability to make improvements could lead to probationary status and an eventual loss of accreditation, which could carry negative weight on students' diplomas.

The proposed $2.6 million override was supposed to go a long way toward helping the school address some of the biggest problems noted by the NEASC, including updating textbooks, technology and more professional development days.

Those items are now all off the table, and must be immediately reported, along with the staff cuts, to the NEASC.

`` It's our job to notify (NEASC) of any major changes,'' Ansay said.

In its review, the NEASC specifically mentioned concerns about a `` misperception by some members of the community that the school has adequate resources,'' and `` an inadequate budget which limits vision for what the school can become.''

`` The biggest issue is not one that would have been rectified through the override,'' Ansay said. `` Eventually, we will need building renovations and additions, and the fact that the override didn't pass will put that off for a while.''

There are some things from the NEASC report that the department will be able to address. The report cited some building maintenance issues, including poor ventilation, that are being funded through the town's capital improvement budget.

Also, Ansay will continue to implement efforts to improve communications between the middle school and high school by having academic department heads overseeing grades 6 through 12. She piloted two subject areas -- math and English -- last January, and will follow up with social studies and science next fall.

`` There are some initiatives going forward that would help us, and we will follow through with that,'' Ansay said.

One problem that will have to wait is additional professional development days, because there is no money for overtime compensation and substitute teacher pay. `` We need time for staff members to work on curriculum, and that takes money,'' Ansay said.

Ansay and Norton High School Principal Raymond Dewar have until April 2007 to submit a special progress detailing how the NEASC's 11 recommendations have been addressed.

Rebecca Keister can be reached at rkeister@thesunchronicle.com or 508-236-0336.