Musical theater will continue in the Northgate School District for at least one more year.

Parents, staff and school board members spoke at the Monday board committee of the whole meeting in support of continuing arts programs that had been proposed for cuts in an effort to reduce spending and future budget deficits.

Musical director Karen Klicker said that the district would fund the high school musical for the coming year while everyone explored what board president Susan Nolan called "creative funding ideas."

Klicker said that she would volunteer her time to continue the elementary school drama program, with help from high school students.

"We're going to have to find ways to keep it," Klicker said of the district's drama programs