BUTLER TWP — Parents of students at the Clarence Brown Educational Center voiced concerns about future educational options at a hearing Tuesday evening on the school’s closure.

The parents spoke to the school’s joint-operating committee made up of representatives of Karns City, Mars, Moniteau, Seneca Valley and South Butler school districts.

While these districts own the school, the programming for the students who have emotional support or life skill needs is run by the Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV of Grove City.

For many parents, the most important issue is where students will attend school next fall after Clarence Brown is expected to close in June.

Tonya Boyer of Slippery Rock, who has a daughter at the school, said change can be extremely difficult for students who attend Clarence Brown.

“(These students) don’t like change in routine. They don’t like changing buildings,” Boyer said. “Our kids should be the most important. I just wish there was a way we could save this school.”

Boyer also voiced concerns if the students would have the same individualized attention that the Clarence Brown program can provide.

Similar concerns were voiced by Misty Wrighter of Butler Township, who has a daughter at the school.

“This is the only school (my daughter) has known. This was the only place that accepted her,” Wrighter told the committee.

She said that other programs “gave up” on her daughter but Clarence Brown always was helpful and welcoming.

“As a parent, I feel like I was smacked in the face,” she said, questioning why parents weren’t notified earlier about plans to close the school.

Both Wrighter and Boyer said the parents could have helped keep the school open if they had been given more time.

Wrighter’s daughter lives in Armstrong County but attends Clarence Brown. For her, the school may be the only option left.

“There isn’t any other option in Armstrong County. We’ve already been down that road,” Wrighter said.

Eric Ritzert, superintendent of the Karns City School District, stressed that each district’s special education programs will work with parents to find the best placement for each student’s needs.

In addition, the committee was asked if grants for funding the school’s repairs and operating costs were considered. Ritzert said he would look into those options.

According to a 2014 study by Thomas and Williamson Program Management, the building would need more than $1.6 million in repairs within the next 10 years.

This is coupled with declining enrollment, with the school expecting only nine students for a 2016-2017 class.

“This program has been exceptional. We know that,” said James Welsh, a school board member for Seneca Valley School District. “But the facts are laid out. Difficult decisions have to be made sometimes.”

Each of the five school boards and the joint-operating committee must vote on the closing plan again, after 90 days, according to solicitor Thomas May.

“No final decision will be made for 90 days,” May said.

Once that vote is made, the decision on how to divide the sale of the school and the school’s furnishings will be determined by the districts.

As for determining placement for students, the process is just beginning, Ritzert said, but programs such as the Center Avenue School in the Butler School District and St. Stephen’s Lutheran Academy in Zelienople may be potential options.

Clarence Brown serves roughly 15 students.